SIU clears police officer in shooting death of Kitchener man

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared a Waterloo Regional police officer in the death of a 20-year-old man.

The Special Investigations Unit says Beau Baker, of Kitchener, Ont., was holding a knife and moving towards police when he was shot seven times by an officer.

The SIU says Baker told a 911 operator he was either going to kill himself or hurt others, including police officers and paramedics.

The watchdog says the police officer who shot Baker knew about the threats when he drew his gun and demanded Baker drop the knife.

They say Baker threatened to stab the officer and began moving towards him, which is when police began shooting with one bullet severing the 20-year-old’s aorta.

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.