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SIU investigating fatal police shooting north of Kenora

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A 39-year old man is dead after an altercation with Kenora OPP officers.

The provincial Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident.

Police say they responded to a call about a man in distress in the Ena Lake area around 6 pm Monday night. He was armed with a knife.

According to police, officers fired their tasers after an unsuccessful attempt at negotiation. Multiple officers then shot their firearms at the man.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS responders.

The SIU encourages anyone with information about the investigation to contact their lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

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Family learns police killing findings via social media

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler and Wapekeka First Nation Chief Brennan Sainnawap are raising concerns about what they are calling “disrespectful” treatment of Indigenous families in police investigations.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) released the results of its investigation into the police shooting of Tyrese Roundsky of Wapekeka First Nation on February 12.

In a letter to the SIU written on Monday, Fiddler says the Roundsky family was not contacted prior and learned the details of this investigation through social media. He says the family was not briefed or sensitized regarding the decision to clear the officer and the revelation that officers on scene neglected to provide first aid for nearly forty minutes.

“It is unacceptable that the family and community had to learn through the media that after being shot, their loved one was neglected for 40 minutes by a police officer who did not render aid,” Fiddler said. “The SIU Director has demonstrated a complete lack of sensitivity in the release of its report, and instead of providing much needed oversight and accountability to the police, the release of the report has re-traumatized the family and a community already plagued with grief.”

Fiddler and Sainnawap wrote that the SIU’s behaviour lies in stark contrast to its express commitments to deliver culturally competent, supportive services to families and communities affected by police shooting fatalities.

23-year old Tyrese Roundsky was shot at a Wapekeka youth centre on July 31, 2025. The youth centre had been temporarily converted into a courtroom at the time. Roundsky advanced on the presiding judge with a knife, then turned and advanced towards an officer before being shot.

The SIU determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence by shooting Roundsky, as their actions were determined to be in self defence.

The failure to perform first aid for over 40 minutes after shooting is still subject to legal scrutiny. The SIU said the officer refrained from approaching Roundsky for fear that he was still armed with a knife and posed a threat. However, the SIU says that concern was less of a risk as the minutes wore on and Roundsky remained motionless on the floor. The medical evidence indicates Roundsky’s wounds were fatal and it is unlikely that any amount of emergency first-aid administered shortly after the shooting could have saved him.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation says that the SIU has increased mistrust among Indigenous communities for their failure to notify the Roundsky family and Wapekeka community before releasing these findings.

“If there is to be any healing or restoration of relationships, it must begin with truth, accountability, and respect for our families, our community, and this generation that has been impacted more deeply than we have ever known,” said Wapekeka First Nation Chief Brennan Sainnawap.

The letter also references the SIU’s investigation into the death of 57-year old Bruce Frogg, a member of Wawakapewin First Nation. Frogg was shot by police in Kenora on June 25, 2024. Fiddler says NAN has rejected the findings of the SIU’s report ever since its release, citing a “complete failure to consider key evidence pointing to an unlawful use of force.”

One year later, Frogg’s son Eric Nothing, a member of Wapekeka First Nation, was shot and killed by police in Deer Lake on July 22, 2025.

“I provide you with this background to ensure you fully comprehend how these tragedies cannot be considered in isolation,” Fiddler wrote. “The failure of the SIU through its shoddy investigation into the death of Bruce Frogg has had significant, lasting impacts across the North, decimating any trust in the SIU. It is important you understand this context, in light of the SIU’s latest failings in their handling of the release of the Roundsky Report last week.”

“Coming so soon after the SIU’s careless investigation into the Frogg shooting, the profound failures towards the Roundsky family and the community of Wapekeka only adds to the failing reputation of the SIU. I find it unbelievable that a government who worked to ensure First Nations have equal access to safety and security could stand by and allow the failures of the SIU to be swept under the rug.”

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Special Investigations Unit looking into death of man in Dryden OPP custody

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Ontario’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has opened an investigation into the death of a man in provincial police custody in Dryden.

The 41-year-old man died on Monday morning.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. 

The man was arrested on Sunday at a home in Dryden for breaching his bail conditions.

He fell into medical distress at the police station and was transported to a local hospital.

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 by clicking here.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a gun at a person.

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SIU Clears OPP Officer

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A Provincial Police officer in Red Lake has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing following a Special Investigations Unit probe.

Police responded to a domestic dispute at a Fish House Road home in Pikangikum on February 11th.

The report indicates four officers were involved in a prolonged struggle with the 28-year-old man but he was eventually handcuffed and transported to the OPP detachment.

The following day, he was diagnosed with a fractured hand and wrist.

The SIU says the evidence is clear that the complainant physically resisted arrest and the officers were within their rights in forcing him to the ground.

The report concludes there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an OPP officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury.

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SIU Clears Police In The Death Of Lac Seul Man

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Police have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the 2019 death of a 38-year-old man in Lac Seul First Nation.

Joseph Martino, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, says he wasn’t able to form reasonable grounds to believe a Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in the November 19th incident in Kejick Bay.

The SIU report states the complainant and his girlfriend barricaded themselves in a bedroom and were threatening to commit suicide.

Fearing for her safety, the women left the home and contacted police, who quickly set up a perimeter and established brief contact with the complainant.

The next day, the OPP’s Tactical Response Unit arrived and using a pole camera, officers were able to see the resident lying on a bed, covered in blankets and not moving.

Police became concerned and decided to enter the home.

Once officers were at the bedroom door, the complainant was ordered to show their hands. At that time, the resident fired a shotgun they had hidden under the blanket and ended their life.

The report also noted that, “Methamphetamine and Amphetamine toxicity”, was a significant condition contributing to the death but not causally related to the immediate cause of death.

Martino says ‘The officers on scene, led by the SO, did what they reasonably could to prevent any harm coming to the complainant. The fact that they were unable to do so is most unfortunate, but far from criminal.”

He adds “In the final analysis, the record establishes that the SO and TRU officers acted professionally throughout and did not cause or contribute to the Complainant’s death in any way that could attract criminal sanction. Accordingly, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges against the SO or any other officer in connection with the Complainant’s death, and the file is closed.”

 

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SIU Clears Provincial Police In Sioux Lookout

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Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in a November 29th, 2019 incident.

The Special Investigations Unit says officers were dispatched to the Tim Hortons that day after receiving a report of an altercation and a 22-year-old man was arrested and transported to the OPP detachment for lodging.

While in a cell, the SIU says the man fell twice from his bed to the ground and a few days later he reported that he had suffered a jaw injury.

In his ruling, Director Joseph Martino says based on video recordings from Tim Hortons and the man’s time at the detachment, there is “patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in relation to the man’s reported injury.”

“If the man’s injury occurred at the Tim Hortons, as appears likely to have been the case given the altercation caught on the recording between the man and another individual, then clearly no police officer was responsible as none were present.”

“If, on the other hand, the man was injured while in custody, there is nothing in the cell video recording to suggest any untoward conduct or want of care on the part of the police. Rather, the injury is likely to have been self-inflicted in the course of one or the other of the man’s falls, or both, captured by the recording.”

Martino says the investigation and the file are now both closed.

 

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SIU Clears Kenora OPP Officer

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Provincial Police in Kenora have been cleared of any wrong-doing when a 27-year-old man was arrested in May of 2019.

The suspect in question sustained a fractured and dislocated left knee

The OPP lodged the man in its cells and transported him to the hospital after he complained about pain in one leg.

The Special Investigations Unit investigated and determined there were no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

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SIU Concludes Investigation Into A Kenora OPP Officer

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The Special Investigations Unit is not laying charges against an OPP officer after a teen girl was hurt falling out of a moving police cruiser.

The incident took place back in June of this year.

The SIU says officers were taking the 17-year-old to the detachment to sober up when she reached through the bars of an open window and opened the back door to leave.

The officer driving applied the brakes and the girl fell to the ground, suffering a broken ankle.

The SIU says while there appears to be some responsibility on the officer, there were no reasonable grounds for charges.

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Lac Seul Incident Under Investigation By SIU

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The Special Investigations Unit is currently investigating a recent incident in Lac Seul.

The unit is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 38-year-old man in Lac Seul on Tuesday.

They have released what they have found from preliminary information so far.

The SIU says at 5pm Monday, members of the Lac Seul Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police responded to a residence after receiving a call about a man who barricaded himself.

They then say police set up a perimeter and made attempts to contact the man and on Tuesday morning the OPP Tactical Response Unit took control of the situation as they continued to try and contact the man.

The SIU then states that concern for the man’s well-being caused officers to enter the residence and soon after the man sustained a fatal gunshot wound.

The unit says based on the info provided, the fatal gunshot wound is believed to have been self-inflicted and a post-mortem is scheduled Thursday morning in Kenora.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.

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SIU Clears Regional OPP In Second Probe

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For a second time, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is concluding a case against OPP officers without finding them at fault of a man’s death over a year ago.

The SIU began re-investigating the March 2018 death of a 29-year-old from Washagamis Bay in May after the Coroner’s office felt the healing of rib injuries were three to six days old after death.

That differed from an original post-mortem exam that identifies that healing months prior.

There had been an allegation the man had been assaulted by police.

After re-opening the case, additional testing by the original pathologist found no evidence of fresh fractures and that any injuries were weeks prior to the man’s interaction with police.

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