Ottawa police officer cleared of criminal charges in July hostage shooting
The SIU says the Ottawa officer who shot a man during a July hostage situation faced a reasonable fear for his life. The report was posted Oct. 30.
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The Special Investigations Unit, Ontario's police watchdog, has found no basis for criminal charges against the Ottawa Police Service officer who shot a 42-year-old man during a hostage situation in July. SIU director Joseph Martino ruled that any reasonable person in the circumstances would have feared for their life and taken steps to defend themselves.
The incident happened July 2 at Old Second Line and Old Carp roads in the west end of the city. The SIU said a woman was being held at knifepoint in an upstairs bedroom, and after several hours of negotiations officers used distraction devices and entered the room. The officer, using a C8 rifle, fired twice after the man grabbed him in a bear hug around the upper legs. The man, who claimed to have both a knife and a firearm, suffered a fractured right tibia from a bullet to his lower right leg and was taken to hospital.
The SIU report quotes its finding directly: "Not knowing whether the man was still in possession of the knife or the firearm he claimed to have, any reasonable person in the circumstances would have feared for their life and taken steps to defend themselves."
HighOnCity reported on the shooting in early July, when police were investigating after an officer shot a suspected hostage-taker in Kanata. The SIU report was posted Oct. 30.
