SIU invokes mandate after man in crisis assaults police officer, is injured during arrest

The logo of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is pictured in Toronto on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

The province’s Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate after a man allegedly assaulted a London police officer with a baseball bat and was injured while police took him into custody on Thursday morning.

According to a news release from the London Police Service, shortly before 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, officers responded to a report of a person in crisis in his home in the area of Adelaide Street North and Kipps Lane.

When officers arrived, they began speaking with the man who had barricaded himself inside the residence.

Police say the man threatened to harm himself and assault police with a weapon.

Members of the Emergency Response Unit arrived to assist and continued attempts to deescalate the situation.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., believing the man was about to hurt himself, members of the Emergency Response Unit stepped onto the balcony of the residence when the man confronted and assaulted an officer with a baseball bat.

Officers then deployed a conducted energy weapon, and the man was taken into custody.

Police say the man was injured during his interaction with police and was transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

He remains in police custody at the hospital.

Police say the officer assaulted by the suspect sustained injuries requiring medical attention. He received treatment at the hospital and was later released.

As a result of the investigation, a 38-year-old London man has been charged with one count of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.

The accused appeared virtually in court on Thursday. He remains in custody in hospital and is expected to re-appear virtually in London court on Friday in relation to the charge.

As a result, the Special Investigations Unit has invoked its mandate.