Post by Rick (Admin) on Jul 16, 2014 13:09:28 GMT -5
SIU takes over construction site shooting near Burk's Falls
BURK’S FALLS – A tense situation today, Wednesday, July 16, at a road construction site that left one man dead from a gun shot wound is now under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit.
The incident happened near the corner of Berriedale and North Pickerel Lake roads at about 6 a.m. with officers from the Almaguin Highlands detachment of the OPP responding to a report of a man with a firearm.
According to police, as officers arrived on the scene the man discharged his gun, causing a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to Huntsville hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. this morning the scene was being turned over to investigators from the Special Investigations Unit, which is taking over the case. According to its website, “When police officers are involved in incidents where someone has been seriously injured, dies or alleges sexual assault, the SIU has the statutory mandate to conduct independent investigations to determine whether a criminal offence took place.”
Berriedale Road resident Todd Carlson was on his way to work at about 6:15 a.m. when he was stopped by the construction crew near the intersection. He was told a man with a gun had trapped one of the workers in a piece of construction equipment known as a packer and cops were on their way.
As he was pulling his truck off to the side of the road he says he noticed two OPP officers run in the direction of the intersection. Moments later he says he saw the two officers returning, one carrying a rifle and the other with their arm around a woman.
He says he looked up the road and saw a body lying there.
‘Literally it just happened. I was turning around and going back home and it happened,” said Carlson.
In total he estimates he was at the scene less than five minutes and saw three police officers, two police cruisers and about a dozen construction workers.
Shortly before 11 a.m. this morning officers were setting up tape and white Province of Ontario vehicles were pulling into the scene.
Inspector Rob Matthews of the Northeast Crime Unit said officers were securing the scene for it to be turned over to the Special Investigation Unit.
Berriedale Road north of Burk’s Falls along with the intersecting roads have been a construction site for about the past two months with Tera North completing a Ministry of Transportation tender to widen, straighten and pave the road from Burk’s Falls to Pevensey Road, at the next northern interchange. The work has included extensive clearing, blasting, ditching and realignment of power and telecommunication poles and lines.
Carlson says he had not yet made an official report to police but has placed a call to them to let them know he would be available as a witness.
“I was really impressed with the way they handled themselves. The officers seemed to know exactly what they were doing with each doing their job right away. There didn’t seem to be any hesitation on their part. The ambulance was there pretty quickly. I have a lot of respect for they way they handled things,” said Carlson.
Living on the road, Carlson said he had an idea of who the deceased man, only identified by the Almaguin Highlands detachment as a 55 year-old, is but did not want to give a name.
“I don’t know for sure and I don’t want to speculate… I don’t think I’ve ever talked to him before, if that is who it is,” said Carlson.
www.northbaynipissing.com/news-story/4634226-siu-takes-over-construction-site-shooting/