The Special Investigations Unit of the Ontario Provincial Police has invoked its mandate after a local man was subdued using a non-lethal weapon Sunday morning.

Prince Edward OPP members, the Tactics and Rescue Unit and Canine unit responded to reports of gun shots at a County Road 5 residence at around 10:15 a.m.

According to neighbouring residents who were outside enjoying their morning tea at the time, a number of gun shots had been heard in the morning.

“All of a sudden an OPP vehicle parked at the end of our driveway and an officer asked us to go inside and get into our basement if we could,” said one resident.

They heard a police officer speaking with an individual and stated they heard police forcefully call for the person to “put the gun down.”

“Then we heard a pop,” they said.

According to an OPP East Region Twitter posting, an ARWEN device (a non-lethal launcher which fires 37 mm non-lethal rounds, either foam or wood or tear gas payload-designed for riot control) was used. One man, 66 years of age, was arrested and taken to hospital. The man did not suffer any serious injuries.

The OPP’s SIU group will investigate any interaction involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault or if someone has been shot at.

-Staff