SIU investigating after Hamilton police officer fires gun during arrest

Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after a Hamilton police officer fired his gun during an arrest in a central Hamilton parking lot early Thursday.

No one was shot during the incident on East Avenue North between King William Street and King Street East.

Hamilton police Const. Krista-Lee Ernst said officers were in the area of Main Street East and Victoria Avenue North shortly after 1 a.m. Sept. 8 investigating a suspect with a firearm before the incident occurred.

Police said they could not say any more and deferred comment to the Special Investigations Unit.

The SIU said an officer spotted the suspect and tried to engage with him, but the man fled. The officer followed on foot. As the officer followed, he told communications the man's location and said the suspect might be in possession of a gun.

More officers joined the pursuit and the man was contained in an East Avenue North parking lot, the SIU said.

There was an interaction" that led multiple officers to deploy their conducted energy weapons at the man. One officer fired his gun at the man, but he was not struck.

The man was arrested.

The SIU has assigned three investigators and one forensic investigator to the case.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates incidents involving police in Ontario where someone is seriously hurt, killed or there is an allegation of sexual assault. Even when there is no serious injury, the SIU also investigates all incidents where a police officer fires a gun.

Anyone with information, including video or photos, is asked to contact the SIU at 1-800-787-8529 or siu.on.ca.

Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com