An investigation is underway after a man was shot by police Thursday at a home in Severn Bridge, about 20 kilometres north of Orillia.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) invoked its mandate after a 30-year-old man was shot with an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) as police were undertaking a drug-trafficking investigation.
Shortly after midnight, OPP officers attended and tried to get the man to leave the home, to no avail. He was found with a knife when officers entered the residence, according to the SIU.
“One officer shot and struck the man with an ARWEN and he dropped the knife,” the SIU stated in a news release. “The man then fell into medical distress due to a suspected drug overdose. Officers administered Narcan to the man and he was arrested. He was released from hospital (Thursday).”
One subject official and 11 witness officials have been designated as part of the investigation, while three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned.
The SIU is looking into the incident because an officer used an ARWEN, a weapon that is classified as a firearm.
“Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person,” the SIU stated.
Anyone with information about Thursday’s incident is asked to contact the lead SIU investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates reports of death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault involving police officers.
