Sudbury police cleared in arrest of domestic violence suspect in March
Greater Sudbury Police were justified in using tear gas and firing a non-lethal weapon during an arrest March 31, according to the provincial body that investigates police.
The Special Investigations Unit released a detailed narrative this week of the man's arrest at a residence near the intersection of Lasalle Boulevard and Falconbridge Road. The SIU refers to the suspect as the complainant throughout the report.
"The complainant had reportedly struck his girlfriend the night before and the police were there to arrest him for assault," said the report from the SIU.
"The complainant’s father answered the door and advised the police that his son was present but would not present himself to be arrested without a warrant."
At that point, the complainant slammed the door and began threatening police, refusing requests to surrender. Officers at the scene then arranged to seek a warrant that would allow them to enter the apartment forcibly to arrest the man.
As more officers arrived, they set up containment around the suspect's basement apartment.
By 6:40 p.m., warrant in hand and the complainant still refusing to give himself up, the police changed their tactics.
"Two teams of tactical officers would breach the apartment’s kitchen and living room windows, whereupon they would direct the complainant to surrender into their custody," the SIU report said.
A round fired from the ARWEN during the arrest is seen in this photo from the SIU. (Supplied)
"If he refused, tear gas would be shot into the apartment in an effort to force him out."
At 7:20 p.m., police moved in, breaking windows and ordering the complainant to come out with nothing in his hands. He again refused.
Police fired two tear gas canisters, one of which the complainant threw back outside. They were also armed with a less-lethal device known as an ARWEN – a launcher that fires a range of less-lethal projectiles.
"Following the second tear gas deployment, the complainant went to his bedroom and returned to the living room with a hatchet in his hands," the SIU report said.
"Armed with an ARWEN and standing within metres of the smashed out living room window, (the officer) fired his weapon twice at the complainant. It is not known whether either ARWEN projectile struck the complainant."
The suspect, while unhurt, seems to have been unnerved by the projectiles.
"Shortly after the ARWEN discharges, the complainant dropped the hatchet and told the officers he was ready to surrender," the report said.
"At their commands, he positioned himself on the floor of his apartment in the area of his living room. Tactical officers entered through the broken windows and arrested the complainant without further incident."
SIU director Joseph Martino wrote in his analysis of the incident that police acted lawfully and reasonably throughout the incident.
"They had cause to believe that the complainant had committed a violent assault on his girlfriend and threatened the initial officers who attended at the apartment to arrest him," Martino wrote.
"The assault on the apartment would also appear a reasonable tactic in the circumstances."
Read the full report here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.