SIU Investigating Reported Serious Injury of Woman in Interaction with Police Horse, Less-Lethal Firearm Discharges at Ottawa Demonstrations

News Release – Case Number: 22-TOI-052   22-IPFP-053   

WITNESS ASSISTANCE

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Mississauga, ON (20 February, 2022) —The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating two police-involved incidents that occurred at the demonstrations in Ottawa and is urging anyone who has information, including video, to come forward. 
Preliminary information suggests the following:

• On Friday, February 18 at approximately 5:14 p.m. there was an interaction between a Toronto Police Service officer on a horse and a 49-year-old woman on Rideau Street and Mackenzie Avenue.
• The woman has a reported serious injury. 
• On Saturday, February 19 at approximately 7:18 p.m. Vancouver Police Department officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (less-lethal firearms) at individuals in the area of Sparks Street and Bank Street.
• No injuries have been reported at this time.
• The SIU asks anyone who may have been struck by a projectile to contact the unit.

Six investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to these cases.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about these investigations, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigators at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

Please note: the dates in this news release have been clarified. 

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must

• consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
• depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
• publicly report the results of its investigations

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Kristy Denette, [email protected]
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES
Telephone/No de téléphone: 416-622-2342 or/ou 1-800-787-8529 extension 2342