Officer who fired at teen with less-lethal firearm in Oshawa under investigation

A Durham Regional Police officer who shot at a 15-year-old boy with a less-lethal firearm during a mental health apprehension is now under investigation.

The Special Investigations Unit looks into any time an Ontario officer discharges a firearm or a person is injured while dealing with police. They announced the investigation into the Oshawa incident on Sept. 23.

According to the SIU, Durham Police officers responded to a family disturbance in a Simcoe Street North home shortly before 5 a.m. on Sept. 22. Uniformed officers, including a mental health officer, responded first. A tactical squad soon followed them.

The officers negotiated with the teen. One of the officers fired the less-lethal firearm while another fired their tazer. The boy was then arrested under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.

The boy was not seriously hurt during his arrest. However, the SIU had to investigate because of the firearm discharge. The less-lethal weapon still counts as a gun according to the SIU mandate as a “barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.”

At this point, the SIU has identified 10 witnesses and the officer under investigation. Anyone with information can call the SIU at 1-800-787-8529 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).