Man shot dead after police chase
Pursuit ends near Inniskillin Wines in Niagara-on-the-lake
The province’s police watchdog agency has invoked its mandate following the shooting death of a man after a police chase that ended in Niagara-on-the-lake on Tuesday.
Niagara Regional Police, Niagara Parks Police and Ontario Provincial Police were involved in the incident, which ended at Line 3 and Niagara Parkway at about 2:30 p.m.
At about 1:30 p.m., police were called to the area of Lundy’s
Lane and Corwin Avenue in Niagara Falls following the report of a suspected impaired driver.
The vehicle, a burgundy pickup truck, was located about an hour later in the area of Line 3 and Niagara Parkway in Niagara-on-the-lake.
The NRP said there was an interaction between police and an adult male and he was subsequently shot by police.
The man was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced deceased.
Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, confirmed the agency is investigating an interaction involving police that resulted in the shooting death of a man.
The NRP posted on its Twitter page shortly after 3 p.m. that Line 1 was closed at Concession 1 and Niagara Parkway was closed between Line 2 and Line 4.
The post advised the public to stay out of the area.
NRP Const. Phil Gavin said the SIU has invoked its mandate to investigate the incident.
“Pending authorization from SIU, we are prohibited from providing more information at this time,” he said.
SIU investigators — an arm’slength agency of the province that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault — arrived at the scene at about 5 p.m. to begin their investigation.
Although it said it would release more information, none was available at the newspaper’s press time.
The incident drew several curious residents to the area.
Although a few of them reported hearing gunshots, they weren’t concerned.
They attributed it to hunting in the rural area.
“There are people who shoot guns around my house and I don’t even notice it anymore because it’s just a normal thing,” said Travis Chorney.
“You don’t question it anymore around here. There are so many hunters,” he said.
Chorney called the incident “absolutely nuts for such a small town. You never hear about this sort of stuff out here.”
Inniskillin Wines co-founder Donald Ziraldo said he was in his office when the incident occurred in front of his Niagara Parkway home.
He stepped outside to find police tape surrounding the intersection, numerous police cruisers including OPP, NRP and Niagara Parks Police, as well as the pickup truck.
“It gets exciting at Inniskillin, but there are never this many cruisers,” he said.
Jack Friesen, 15, said he was with a friend pushing a dirt bike along Line 5 when a pickup truck that matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle raced past them.
“He came up right behind us doing 120 (km/h) maybe, and went into the ditch and back out after he swerved around us at the last second,” Friesen said.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has information is asked by authorities to contact either the SIU at
“You never hear about this stuff out here.” TRAVIS CHORNEY ONLOOKER
1-800-787-8529 or the NRP at 688-4111 ext. 1009134.
— With files from Bob Tymczyszyn Alison Langley is a St. Catharinesbased reporter for the Niagara Falls Review. Reach her via email: alison.langley@niagaradailies.com