Ottawa police fire anti-riot weapon at man, SIU investigating

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The province’s Special Investigations Unit has opened an investigation after an Ottawa Police Service officer fired an anti-riot weapon at a 43-year-old man in Nepean on Christmas Eve.

The victim was struck, but was not seriously injured, the SIU said in a release Dec. 27.

The agency said “preliminary” information indicated that police were called to a residence on Cornell Street at 10:35 a.m. on Christmas Eve for a “man in distress.”

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Cornell is a short street near Baseline and Greenbank roads.

“Officers attempted to negotiate with the man,” the release stated. “An officer discharged an ARWEN and the projectile struck the man.”

The man was taken to hospital, where he was cleared of any serious injury, but was admitted under the Mental Health Act.

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because the officer discharged an “ARWEN,” which is classified as a firearm. Under the SIU Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death.

The ARWEN is an acronym for “Anti Riot Weapon Enfield.” It has a large rotary magazine barrel that can carry up to five different projectiles.

The SIU said two investigators and one forensic investigator had been assigned to the case.

Anyone who may have information about the investigation, including video or photos, was asked to contact the SIU’s lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

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