SIU investigating after police shoot bean-bag gun during mental health call

The Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances that led to Toronto police officers firing a bean-bag gun at a man while responding to a mental-health crisis call.

Police were called to a building on Yonge Street north of Finch Avenue at around 9:45 p.m. on Friday night following reports of an individual in crisis and in possession of a weapon.

The SIU says when they arrived they encountered a 33-year-old man and a bean-bag gun was discharged along with a stun gun.

According to the police watchdog the man did not sustain any serious injury and was taken to hospital and detained under the Mental Health Act.

“The SIU’s mandate was invoked as per the Special Investigations Unit Act because a police officer discharged a firearm at a person,” the agency said in a statement. “Legislation defines a firearm as a barrelled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.”