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OPP officer shoots at man after he crashed into police vehicle on Hwy. 11: SIU

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Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer discharged his firearm at a 36-year-old man in northern Ontario on Friday evening.

“At approximately 8:30 p.m., the James Bay OPP responded to a call for service on Elaine Street in Smooth Rock Falls,” said the OPP in a news release on Saturday.

“During the course of the investigation, there was an interaction between a responding officer and a person on Highway 11, approximately 5 kilometres east of Moonbeam.”

Officers were attending the Moonbeam residence in response to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute – however, the man had fled the home in a vehicle before the arrival of police.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said police attempted to conduct a traffic stop and block the man’s vehicle on Highway 11 east of Moonbeam.

“The man drove into a police vehicle. An officer discharged his firearm at the vehicle,” said SIU in a news release.

“The man fled on foot and was later located by police.”

OPP said they took one person into custody at 2 p.m. on Saturday in relation to the incident.

“He did not sustain any firearm injuries,” said the SIU.

According to OPP, the highway was closed at the location of the “incident” for approximately 12 hours to facilitate the investigation.

The roadway reopened at about 10 a.m. on Sept. 21 according to police.

The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency with a consequence-based jurisdiction to conduct criminal investigations. An undated photo of an Ontario SIU vehicle. (File Photo/flickr/Larry Thorne)

 “The OPP has notified the province's SIU, which has invoked its mandate,” said police.

“As a result, the OPP will not be able to provide any further information.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officers, special constables and peace officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

The SIU said its investigation is ongoing.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.

The SIU is asking anyone who may have information about the incident to contact investigators at 1-800-787-8529 or submit evidence including statements, photos and/or video or other details online.

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