The Special Investigations Unit says Ottawa police deployed a conducted energy weapon on Saturday as they tried to negotiate with a 35-year-old man who was armed with a knife. (CBC – image credit)
Ontario’s police watchdog has invoked its mandate after a 35-year-old man having a mental health crisis was injured during an interaction with Ottawa police.
Early Saturday morning, a woman contacted the Ottawa Police Service to report that her family member was in crisis, according to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The man had left their home in a vehicle, SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon told CBC in an email.
Police later found the man inside his vehicle near Longfield Drive and Cambrian Street, armed with a knife.
They tried to negotiate with him, Hudon said, and at some point an officer broke the vehicle’s windows and fired a conducted energy weapon.
The man suffered a serious injury and was taken to hospital.
Part of the SIU’s investigation, Hudon said, will involve understanding exactly how the man was injured.
The SIU investigates incidents involving police and civilians that have resulted in serious injury, death or allegations of sexual assault.