Latest news with #ARWEN
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Northwestern Ont. man shot during arrest, investigation underway
The ARWEN launcher fires a solid plastic projectile, called a baton, intended to disable a suspect instead of killing them. (File photo) Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after a man was shot with an anti-riot weapon by officers responding to an assault in the northwestern part of the province Sunday morning. Paramedics who were called to a home in Onigaming First Nation contacted police when the individual became confrontational, forcing them to retreat, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit said in a news release Monday. Treaty Three Police Service, along with the Ontario Provincial Police emergency response team and canine unit, responded shortly before 6 a.m. June 8, OPP said. The scene was contained and as the man was exiting the residence, an interaction between him and police led to one of the officers discharging his crowd control device at the man. The weapon -- known as an ARWEN -- is a less lethal launcher system that is classified as a firearm. The 22-year-old man was struck, but did not suffer any serious injury, the SIU said. Police did specify the type of munition used. He was arrested and the OPP notified the SIU, which invoked its mandate to investigate instances when police discharged a firearm at an individual. 'Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case,' SIU said. 'The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at The agency will investigate whether or not there are grounds for criminal charges or if the use of force was reasonable in the circumstances. Its findings will be published publicly. Support to people affected by the incident is offered by the SIU, including loved ones, family members and civilian witnesses. 'If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: the SIU said. 'The aim of the program is to meaningfully respond to the emotional and practical needs of those persons impacted by incidents under SIU investigation.' Onagaming First Nation is located 115 kilometres southeast of Kenora near the Manitoba border.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police misconduct ruling in death of B.C. woman Lisa Rauch, killed by anti-riot round
An adjudicator appointed by British Columbia's police watchdog has found a Victoria officer committed misconduct when he fired an anti-riot weapon at a woman in 2019, striking her in the head and killing her. Retired judge Wally Oppal ruled for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of the so-called ARWEN rounds against Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' No date has been set for Oppal's decision on possible discipline or other recommendations. Rauch had locked herself in an apartment on Christmas Day, 2019, resulting in a police call that ended with her death when Kirkwood fired three ARWEN rounds into the room. The anti-riot weapon Kirkwood used against Rauch fires plastic projectiles, and a police inspector instructed him to 'target' the woman as soon as he saw her, Oppal's ruling said. Oppal's ruling said Rauch, 43, was addicted to drugs and had been drinking alcohol and using crystal meth with a friend at an apartment, when she went into a 'drug induced psychosis.' When police entered the apartment, which was filled with smoke from a fire, they believed they saw Rauch standing in the room, but she had instead been sitting on a couch with her back to them, 'not standing facing them.' Two plastic rounds hit her in the back of the head, 'causing significant trauma,' Oppal's ruling said. Kirkwood, who was a constable at the time of the incident, said he wouldn't have fired the rounds 'if he knew he was aiming at her head,' and said it was difficult to find Rauch afterwards due to the thickness of the smoke. Oppal said Kirkwood's assessment that the situation justified firing the weapon was 'objectively unreasonable' due to Kirkwood's obscured view of the room. He found the allegation of an abuse of authority proven. Oppal found that Kirkwood's failure to make notes did not constitute a neglect of duty. Although this was contrary to Kirkwood's 'common law duty,' it was in line with what his force expected at the time, and accorded with his superior officers' directions, Oppal found. Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan said the case involved the first public hearing called under the B.C. Police Act into a person's death. 'Rauch lost her life, and her family and friends are surely continuing to deal with their tragic loss. All involved, including (Sgt.) Kirkwood and the many first responders, dealt with a traumatic experience,' Rajan said in a news release. 'I am hopeful that lessons can be learned from this tragedy.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Global News
24-05-2025
- Global News
Hearing finds VicPD officer committed misconduct in woman's plastic bullet death
A public hearing for a Victoria police officer in the death of a woman shot with plastic bullets on Christmas Day in 2019 determined he committed misconduct under the police act. The woman, Lisa Rauch, 43, was taken off life support and died in hospital a few days after the incident. Retired judge Wally Oppal delivered his ruling on Sgt. Ron Kirkwood on Friday, following 16 days of hearings. 'She was funny, she loved her family,' Audrey Rauch, Lisa's mother, told Global News. 'I would really hope that this has a deterrent effect on how people are dealt with – I really do.' 2:08 Hearing into Victoria police officer's actions in 2019 death of Lisa Rauch Police had been called to a housing facility after a fire broken out in a suite where Lisa was barricaded and had reportedly threatened someone with a knife. Story continues below advertisement With smoke coming from the window, police moved to enter the unit and fired three projectiles from an ARWEN, a so-called 'less-lethal launcher,' striking her in the head. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She was knocked unconscious and never woke up. The hearing heard Lisa had been visiting a friend in the building, where the two drank alcohol and took crystal meth before the fire broke out. Kirkwood told the hearing he believed Lisa posed a danger to others and that he fired the projectiles into the unit, believing he was aiming at her torso. Oppal ruled he should not have fired at her while his vision was obscured by smoke, and that the situation did not justify the use of potentially lethal force. However, he said he accepted Kirkwood did not intend to kill her, and that his remorse was genuine. Oppal also ruled that allegations Kirkwood neglected his duty by failing to document his actions were unsubstantiated. 2:29 Vancouver police notify watchdog after man shot with rubber bullets during mistaken arrest 'This was a dynamic scene like no other. There was reference made to seconds. There were fire alarms that were going off in the building, there was reduced visibility,' Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said. Story continues below advertisement 'This was not an easy call – there were many, many variables at play — and nobody wanted the outcome that we ended up with.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This was not an easy call - there were many, many variables at play — and nobody wanted the outcome that we ended up with." The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner ordered the public hearing in 2023 following a request from Lisa's family, who said there were inconsistencies in information they received from police and from the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) — B.C.'s civilian police watchdog. An IIO investigation into the incident declined to open the door to charges in 2020, saying there were no reasonable grounds to believe an officer had committed an offence. The IIO report concluded Lisa was intoxicated and had threatened residents prior to the fire. It said while officers are trained to fire ARWEN rounds into a person's body, the officer's vision was obscured by smoke from the fire and he thought he had been aiming for her abdomen. A coroner's inquest into the death is still set to be scheduled in the coming months. Oppal is set to make recommendations to the Victoria Police Department and the Victoria Police Board at a later date.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Police misconduct ruling in death of B.C. woman Lisa Rauch, killed by anti-riot round
VICTORIA - An adjudicator appointed by British Columbia's police watchdog has found a Victoria officer committed misconduct when he fired an anti-riot weapon at a woman in 2019, striking her in the head and killing her. Retired judge Wally Oppal says in his ruling for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of the so-called ARWEN rounds against Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.' No date has been set for Oppal's decision on possible discipline or other recommendations. Rauch had locked herself in an apartment on Christmas Day, 2019, resulting in a police call that ended with her death when Kirkwood fired three ARWEN rounds into the room. Oppal says this was 'objectively unreasonable' due to Kirkwood's obscured view of the room. Police Complaint Commissioner Prabhu Rajan says the case involved the first public hearing called under the B.C. Police Act into a person's death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Toronto Star
24-05-2025
- Toronto Star
Police misconduct ruling in death of B.C. woman Lisa Rauch, killed by anti-riot round
VICTORIA - An adjudicator appointed by British Columbia's police watchdog has found a Victoria officer committed misconduct when he fired an anti-riot weapon at a woman in 2019, striking her in the head and killing her. Retired judge Wally Oppal says in his ruling for the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner that Sgt. Ron Kirkwood's use of the so-called ARWEN rounds against Lisa Rauch was 'reckless and unnecessary.'
