Update from the Special Investigations Unit:
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injury sustained by a man yesterday in Collingwood.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers attended an apartment building on Ontario Street to check on the well-being of a 30-year-old man.
- When the man refused to come out of his room at the request of officers, the officers left the apartment unit. OPP tactical officers were dispatched.
- Around 11:30 a.m., tactical officers entered a firetruck telescopic aerial basket and were lifted to the apartment window. At the same time, other tactical officers entered the unit from inside the apartment building.
- Multiple officers fired plastic projectiles from an Anti Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at the man.
- Shortly after, the man fell from an apartment window to the ground below.
- He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, and was then taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.
Original OPP release
On Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 at approximately 7 a.m., officers from the Collingwood and the Blue Mountains Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were following up on an incident from Oct. 7, 2018 and attended a residence in Collingwood to check on the well-being of a male.
There was an interaction between police and the male. The male jumped out a window and sustained serious injuries. He was transported by County of Simcoe Paramedic Services (Collingwood Paramedic Station) to a local hospital for medical assessment.
The OPP has notified the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which has invoked its mandate. As a result, the OPP will not be able to provide any further information. Any other inquiries should be directed to SIU Communications at (416) 622-2342.
