SIU investigates "interaction" between two Niagara police leaves one in critical condition with gunshot wound

PELHAM, Ont. – A 44-year-old police officer was seriously injured Thursday by a shootout that allegedly involved two members of the Niagara Regional Police Service.

The Special Investigations Unit said it was investigating an "altercation" between two officers, one of whom was shot and wounded around noon in Pelham, Ontario.

"The officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment and airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital," said SIU spokesperson Monica Hudon.

"Understanding what happened and the relationship between the officers is part of the SIU investigation. I can only tell you that there was an altercation, that a gun was unloaded and that an officer was hit.

Hudon added that the agency had badigned 11 investigators, including three forensic specialists, to the case. She added that the investigation had started very early and that no arrests had occurred.

She urged all people with information, especially video evidence, to contact the UES.

Niagara Regional Police said in a statement Thursday night that the officer was in a stable state. The officer has 28 years of service and his name "is not disclosed at the moment," said the force.

"In a spirit of transparency, I asked the Ontario Provincial Police to determine if there was a criminal liability other than that of the SIU," said Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch. .

"The days and weeks to come will be challenging for the NRPS family and the community we serve," said MacCulloch. "I ask your support to our members and all those involved."

Locals said the shooting had resulted in a rush of team cars in the early afternoon.

Robin Zavitz stated that she was returning home around 1:30 pm when she came across a police blockade. She said that she could see a police vehicle in a ditch and many police cars nearby.

"The police car is the first head in the ditch and it does not seem to be damaged," Zavitz said.

"It's scary when a policeman was shot in the middle of the day."

Zavitz said that a police car had blocked the road at the same intersection all morning, but that the many police activities did not take place until the beginning of the afternoon.

The Niagara Regional Police had tweeted earlier Thursday that the road would be partially closed for investigation. Hudon said the investigation was related to a collision occurred a few days earlier, but did not specify further.

Mike Shepherd was driving home when he arrived at the same intersection at about 11:30 am An officer was in the car of his squad, blocking the road eastbound, Shepherd said.

"He said that they were investigating an accident on the road."

A little more than an hour later, he said that an ambulance was running at full speed.

The province's Air Ambulance Service announced that it had transported a patient from a hospital in St. Catharines, Ontario to a Hamilton Trauma Center with serious injuries.

The SIU is an independent body that is automatically called upon to investigate reports of death, serious injury or allegations of badual badault involving the police.