SIU clears Orillia OPP officer in fatal 2024 shooting incident
Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2025 4:31 am
The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has cleared an Orillia OPP officer of any wrongdoing in connection with a November 2024 altercation that turned into a stabbing and fatal shooting.
According to the SIU, on the afternoon of Nov. 7, 2024, OPP officers in Orillia were on the lookout for a suspect.
A citizen had called to report that a man had just assaulted another male around 95 Barrie Rd.
An Orillia OPP officer was on his way to court when he heard the radio broadcast of the assault and located the suspect on Cochrane Street. He was walking eastward on the north side of the road with a black dog, approaching Matchedash Street South.
The officer drove up to him in his cruiser, stopped a distance behind, and exited the vehicle, notes the SIU report.
He called out to the suspect, telling him to stop and that he was under arrest. The suspect glanced at the officer over his right shoulder, but continued walking. His hands were in the front pockets of the hoodie he was wearing.
As the officer advanced to within about 10 metres of the suspect, he turned to face the officer with the knife in his right hand. The suspect ran towards the officer, holding the knife above his shoulders, and swung the weapon down at the officer, notes the report.
The officer had observed an object in the suspect's right hand as he was being rushed, and attempted to close the distance to prevent him swinging fully with what he feared was a knife.
"He felt a pain in the back of his left shoulder as the (suspect) came down with the knife, and realized he had been stabbed," notes the SIU report.
The officer was able to get away from the suspect and ran south. He lost his footing at the end of the road and fell into a ditch front first, but not before the suspect had struck the officer again in the back with the knife.
The suspect followed the officer into the ditch to resume the attack. The officer kicked out at the suspect while on his back to keep him away.
"As the struggle continued, the (officer) drew his weapon and fired six times at the (suspect)," notes the SIU report.
One of those rounds entered and exited the officer’s right foot. The suspect remained on his feet, initially, for a brief period, before falling to the ground, the knife still in his right hand.
"Both parties now struggled to get to their feet. The officer rose first and fired an additional volley of three shots at the (suspect), who was in the process of getting up at the time," notes the SIU report.
Following the last of the shots, the suspect threw the knife at the officer and said he was done. He briefly tried to crawl away but soon became motionless in the ditch.
The officers climbed out of the ditch, radioed that he had been stabbed and shots had been fired, and pointed his gun at the suspect.
Additional officers arrived on scene. They ordered the prone suspect to show his hands. One officer fired a stun gun at the suspect. Another officer went into the ditch and handcuffed him behind the back. An additional officer "promptly began cardiopulmonary resuscitation" on the suspect.
"Firefighters and paramedics attended and took charge of the (suspect's) care," notes the SIU report. The man was transported to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The original responding officer received sutures for his shoulder injury and underwent surgery for the bullet wound to his right foot.
After its investigation, the SIU concluded there was "no reasonable grounds" to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the shooting death of the 26-year-old Orillia man.
SIU Director Joseph Martino "was satisfied the officer fired his weapon to defend himself from a reasonably apprehended attack at the hands of the man."
"Faced with a life and death decision, and only split seconds in which to decide, the officer cannot be faulted for having chosen his firearm."
The full director's report, with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis as well as the Director’s decision, can be found here.
The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving an official where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault
https://www.midlandtoday.ca/police-beat ... t-11386659
According to the SIU, on the afternoon of Nov. 7, 2024, OPP officers in Orillia were on the lookout for a suspect.
A citizen had called to report that a man had just assaulted another male around 95 Barrie Rd.
An Orillia OPP officer was on his way to court when he heard the radio broadcast of the assault and located the suspect on Cochrane Street. He was walking eastward on the north side of the road with a black dog, approaching Matchedash Street South.
The officer drove up to him in his cruiser, stopped a distance behind, and exited the vehicle, notes the SIU report.
He called out to the suspect, telling him to stop and that he was under arrest. The suspect glanced at the officer over his right shoulder, but continued walking. His hands were in the front pockets of the hoodie he was wearing.
As the officer advanced to within about 10 metres of the suspect, he turned to face the officer with the knife in his right hand. The suspect ran towards the officer, holding the knife above his shoulders, and swung the weapon down at the officer, notes the report.
The officer had observed an object in the suspect's right hand as he was being rushed, and attempted to close the distance to prevent him swinging fully with what he feared was a knife.
"He felt a pain in the back of his left shoulder as the (suspect) came down with the knife, and realized he had been stabbed," notes the SIU report.
The officer was able to get away from the suspect and ran south. He lost his footing at the end of the road and fell into a ditch front first, but not before the suspect had struck the officer again in the back with the knife.
The suspect followed the officer into the ditch to resume the attack. The officer kicked out at the suspect while on his back to keep him away.
"As the struggle continued, the (officer) drew his weapon and fired six times at the (suspect)," notes the SIU report.
One of those rounds entered and exited the officer’s right foot. The suspect remained on his feet, initially, for a brief period, before falling to the ground, the knife still in his right hand.
"Both parties now struggled to get to their feet. The officer rose first and fired an additional volley of three shots at the (suspect), who was in the process of getting up at the time," notes the SIU report.
Following the last of the shots, the suspect threw the knife at the officer and said he was done. He briefly tried to crawl away but soon became motionless in the ditch.
The officers climbed out of the ditch, radioed that he had been stabbed and shots had been fired, and pointed his gun at the suspect.
Additional officers arrived on scene. They ordered the prone suspect to show his hands. One officer fired a stun gun at the suspect. Another officer went into the ditch and handcuffed him behind the back. An additional officer "promptly began cardiopulmonary resuscitation" on the suspect.
"Firefighters and paramedics attended and took charge of the (suspect's) care," notes the SIU report. The man was transported to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The original responding officer received sutures for his shoulder injury and underwent surgery for the bullet wound to his right foot.
After its investigation, the SIU concluded there was "no reasonable grounds" to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the shooting death of the 26-year-old Orillia man.
SIU Director Joseph Martino "was satisfied the officer fired his weapon to defend himself from a reasonably apprehended attack at the hands of the man."
"Faced with a life and death decision, and only split seconds in which to decide, the officer cannot be faulted for having chosen his firearm."
The full director's report, with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis as well as the Director’s decision, can be found here.
The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving an official where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault
https://www.midlandtoday.ca/police-beat ... t-11386659