SIU Investigating ARWEN Discharge in Onigaming First Nation

Press Release

Mississauga, ON (9 June, 2025) —The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deployment of an Anti-Riot Weapon EnField (ARWEN) at a 22-year-old man yesterday in Onigaming First Nation.
Preliminary information suggests the following:

• On the morning of June 8, 2025, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) attended a home on the reserve to render assistance to an individual. Following a confrontation with the individual, EMS retreated and contacted police for assistance.
• Ontario Provincial Police officers from the Emergency Response Team and Canine Unit, as well as Treaty Three Police Service officers, were dispatched to the residence and the scene was contained.
• Upon the man exiting the residence, there was an interaction between him and officers. One OPP officer deployed his ARWEN at the man, and the man was struck.
• The man was subsequently arrested. He did not suffer any serious injury.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES

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