Man behind carjacking shot with ‘anti-riot weapon’ in Oakville, SIU investigating

The province’s police watchdog is investigating after a Halton police officer fired an anti-riot weapon at a 19-year-old man that fled the scene of a crime in Oakville, leading to the lockdown of Sheridan College.

Halton police officers were notified of a reported carjacking in the Eighth Line and Kestell Boulevard area in Oakville at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said a male suspect fled in a vehicle and was reportedly involved in a collision in the Trafalgar Road and Ceremonial Drive area. The man then fled on foot.

A short time later, a police service dog tracked the suspect down in a resident’s backyard in the McCraney Street East area. The SIU said an officer fired an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at the man. He was then taken into custody.

Halton paramedics tell CityNews the 19-year-old suspect was treated for bite wounds. An SIU spokesperson said the male suspect was not seriously injured, but the SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, classified as a firearm.

Sheridan College in Oakville was briefly locked down on Wednesday due to the man’s presence near the school. A spokesperson confirmed in an email to CityNews that officers alerted Sheridan College of a possible suspect with a firearm near the campus. The lockdown was lifted a short time later.

No students or staff were injured.

Halton’s police chief Steve Tanner praised responding officers following news of the arrest.

“If you commit a serious crime and challenge them, they will find you,” Tanner said. “Welcome to the justice system.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials, police officers and constables that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.