SIU investigating after Toronto police use less-lethal firearms, seriously injuring man

Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after Toronto police officers fired a sock round and blunt impact projectiles while arresting a man on Saturday morning, leaving him seriously injured. 

Officers were called to an apartment around 7:40 a.m. near Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue W, according to a news release by the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU.) 

A man, 56, had stabbed someone with a knife and threatened others with a staple gun, the release said. After police arrived on scene, the man approached them with a staple gun.

One officer fired a sock round, hitting the man. Sock rounds are essentially bean bags and considered a less-lethal option for police. 

Police also used "numerous conducted energy weapons," the SIU said. 

The man then barricaded himself in his apartment unit. An officer fired a gun, but didn't hit the man. 

After an attempted negotiation, officers entered the unit. One officer fired blunt impact projectiles, another type of less-lethal firearm, the SIU said. Police also used more conducted energy weapons.

The man was arrested and taken to hospital with a serious injury, the SIU said. No officers were injured. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the SIU. 

The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of police officers in incidents that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm or allegations of sexual assault.