A man was allegedly shot by two Niagara Region police officers early on Christmas Day in St. Catharines. The case is now under investigation by Ontario’s Special investigations Unit.
Early on Dec. 25, at around 1:30 a.m., Hamilton Police notified 8 District uniform officers in Grimsby that an individual involved in an earlier assault was believed to be in the Grimsby area. Grimsby officers were asked for “assistance in locating a person of interest believed to be heading into NRPS’s jurisdiction,” said a SIU news release.
The suspect’s car was located in the area of St. Paul Street West and Vansickle Road in St. Catharines. Police used a tire deflation device to stop the vehicle.
During an interaction with officers, a 30-year-old man was shot by police. He was sent to the hospital with non-threatening injuries and remains in stable condition.
“There was an interaction between officers and the 30-year-old man who was driving the vehicle. While the man was outside of the vehicle, two officers discharged their firearms and the man was struck,” said the SIU.
A knife was found at the scene and was seized by SIU forensic investigators. They also took possession of two police-issued firearms.
SIU is a civilian provincial agency that investigates cases that involve law enforcement where there’s been a death, serious injury, a discharge of a firearm at a person, or allegations of sexual assault.
Police asks anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who has information is asked to contact either the SIU at 1-800-787-8529 or the Niagara Regional Police Service at 1-905-688-4111, dial option 3 ext. 1009242.