Ontario's police watchdog has determined that there are no grounds on which to charge any London police officers after an incident that saw a man set himself on fire.
Police and fire crews were called on August 2, 2019 to the Immigration, Refugee, and Canadian Citizenship office at 417 Exeter Rd. A man who had a gasoline can and a lighter was threatening to take his own life. Officers tried to talk him out of it, but he doused himself in gasoline. Police then fired Blunt Impact Projectiles (BIP) at the man in an attempt to disable or distract him. However, they were unsuccessful and the man set himself on fire.
The flames were quickly put out and the man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
"The officers had given the complainant every opportunity to cease course and only resorted to their weapons when the complainant’s self-immolation appeared imminent," said SIU Director Joseph Martino in his final report on the matter. "Had they worked as intended, the BIP shots would have disarmed the complainant of the dangerous items in his possession or sufficiently incapacitated him to allow the officers to move in, without the infliction of serious injury."
Martino said he is satisfied that the officers "acted lawfully throughout their dealings with the Complainant, there is no basis for proceeding with charges in this case and the file is closed."
The full report can be read by clicking here.