SIU Concludes Investigation into Elmvale Firearm Death

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Ian Scott , the Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer with the Huronia West Detachment committed a criminal offence in relation to the firearm death of a 59-year-old Elmvale man in June of 2009.

The SIU assigned four investigators and three forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident.

The SIU investigation determined that on the evening of June 22 , the subject officer was dispatched to a residence in Elmvale, to investigate a reported altercation between a door-to-door salesman and Douglas Minty . As the subject officer approached the home, Mr. Minty began walking quickly toward the subject officer with a knife in his hand. The officer backed up and drew his service pistol, while instructing Mr. Minty to drop his weapon. Instead of complying, Mr. Minty charged at the officer with the knife pointing in the officer's direction. The officer discharged his firearm several times at Mr. Minty , causing him to fall to the ground. Mr. Minty was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post mortem attributed his cause of death to multiple gunshot wounds.

Director Scott said, "I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the civilian witnesses who saw Mr. Minty quickly approach the subject officer with a knife in his right hand in an extremely threatening manner. I am of the view that the subject officer was justified in the use of lethal force in these circumstances under ss. 34(2) of the Criminal Code, as he had a reasonable apprehension of imminent death or grievous bodily harm from which he could not escape because Mr. Minty was attacking him with a knife and not complying with his demands to drop his weapon. Accordingly, I am of the view that the lethal force used was not excessive."

The SIU is a civilian agency that investigates cases of serious injuries (including allegations of sexual assault) and deaths involving the police. Pursuant to section 113 of the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU is mandated to consider whether a criminal offence has been committed by an officer(s) in connection with the incident under investigation and, where warranted by the evidence, to cause a criminal charge or charges to be laid against the officer(s). The Director reports the results of investigations to the Attorney General.

For further information: Monica Hudon, SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES, Telephone/No de telephone: [phone] or/ou 1-800-787-8529