The province’s police watchdog has started an investigation after a 26-year-old man being chased by police died, and a 76-year-old bystander was seriously hurt in an incident with police officers in northeastern Ontario. gunfire incident with OPP officers in northeastern Ontario.
According to initial findings, the Special Investigations Unit says at around 5 p.m. Thursday, OPP officers in Kirkland Lake stopped a vehicle with two men. The officers tried to arrest them for drug-related crimes but the suspects ran away in their vehicle.
Police declared a shelter-in-place order in the Latchford area and surrounding communities.
Gunfire happened in the area of Highway 11 and Portage Bay Road as police tried to stop the vehicle, police said. A 26-year-old man in the vehicle was found dead.
The other person in the vehicle ran away but was caught by police and arrested. He was not hurt.
A 76-year-old resident who was not involved in the alleged crime was seriously injured. He was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Highway 11 was closed from Portage Bay Road to Highway 11B while the initial investigation was carried out. All roads have since reopened.
A post-mortem on the suspect who died is scheduled for Monday.
The SIU is asking 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: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php
