SIU investigating serious injury reported during Ottawa protests

Ontario's police watchdog is investigating two cases where police tried to clear protesters from Ottawa streets on Friday and Saturday.

In a media release Sunday, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said a 49-year-old woman reported being seriously injured after an "interaction" with a Toronto Police Service officer on a horse at roughly 5:14 p.m. Friday.

The incident is related to false rumours of a woman being trampled to death by a police horse that same day.

The SIU said it is currently in the process of interviewing the woman and confirming her injuries.

It said the circumstances that led to the woman's reported injuries are also under investigation.

Ottawa police tweeted it will "respect the oversight process and will always fully cooperate" with the SIU.

Toronto police wouldn't confirm if it has launched an internal investigation into the incident, deferring all questions to the police watchdog.

Then on Saturday, at approximately 7:18 p.m., the SIU said officers from the Vancouver Police Department discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields — which can be used to fire tear gas canisters, plastic bullets or other projectiles — at people near Sparks Street and Bank Street.

The agency confirmed tear gas wasn't used but couldn't say what other projectile was fired.

While there were no injuries reported in the second incident, the SIU is asking anyone who was hit by a projectile or has information, including video, to contact them.

The investigation comes after Ottawa police said they have made 191 arrests and towed 57 vehicles as of late Sunday morning.

The SIU has assigned six investigators and two forensic investigators to look into both incidents.