OPP cleared in 2024 shooting on Highway 401

Traffic backup on Highway 401 near Cedar Creek Road on Nov. 29, 2024. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News)

An Ontario Provincial Police officer who shot a man on Highway 401 nearly one year ago has been cleared of all wrongdoing.

On Nov. 29, 2024, an argument broke out between two people who were traveling in a pickup truck on Oxford Road 6. According to a report from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a man jumped out of the vehicle while it was still moving. He then got back inside after it stopped, and the truck drove off.

Witnesses reported the incident to police who located the vehicle around 5:20 p.m. traveling in the eastbound lanes of the highway between Kitchener and Cambridge.

“Based on the circumstances, the decision was made to execute a ‘high-risk takedown,’” the SIU said. “Two officers brought their vehicles to a stop at an angle in front of the driver and passenger side front corners of the pick-up truck, while two other officers positioned their cruisers behind the truck. The officers in front exited their vehicles with their guns drawn. One of these officers discharged his firearm in the direction of the male driver.”

The 46-year-old man had been shot in his right arm. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

In the SIU’s report, released on Friday, Director Joseph Martino determined “there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the shooting.”

The SIU investigates all incidents involving police that result in allegations of sexual assault, serious injury or death.