Ontario Provincial Police in Brant County say the Special Investigations Unit was called in after an incident at the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area in Ayr, Ont., left a man injured.
Few details are known about the case but OPP said on Twitter that a man was left with minor injuries after police responded to an incident at the park.
Police also noted that the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had invoked its mandate, which means there would be no further comment from police.
The SIU issued a release later in the day that said that OPP officers were called to the conservation area after a man was reportedly trespassing.
Officers arrived at the scene at 2:40 a.m. and eventually tracked the man down before they attempted to arrest him.
The SIU said there was a struggle between the officers and the man before they fired an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield or “ARWEN” at him twice. Police typically describe the ARWEN as a “less-lethal” firearm.
The man was then taken to an area hospital for treatment.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates incidents involving police that have resulted in death, serious injury or alleged sexual assault.
“The man did not sustain any serious injury, but the SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is classified as a firearm,” an SIU spokesperson told Global News on Monday in an email.
“Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled 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.”