Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the death of a 60-year-old man in Minden Hills April 13, following a shootout between the man and Haliburton Highlands OPP officers.
Monica Hudon, SIU spokesperson, said three investigators and three forensic specialists have been on-scene at a residence on Gelert Road April 14.
She said police responded to a call at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday after someone reported concern for the wellbeing of a man. Officers were told the man had left his Gelert Road property with a firearm.
Soon after, police arrived on-scene and located the man near the intersection of Gelert Road and Ingoldsby Road. There was an exchange of gunfire between officers and the man, who was by then hidden in some bushes.
Once gunfire ceased, officers approached the bushes and found the man deceased. His fatal injury was determined to be self-inflicted, Hudon said.
Haliburton Highlands OPP issued a media release Sunday notifying people of an investigation on Gelert Road. They said there was no threat to public safety. The road was closed from Louise Lane South to Ingoldsby Road for two days.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police involved in incidents that resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and discharge of a firearm at a person.
Investigators must consider whether the officers involved committed a crime. Depending on the evidence, SIU will direct criminal charges be laid where there are grounds for doing so or close the file.
While Hudon said provincial legislation prohibits her from releasing the name of the deceased, The Highlander has confirmed it’s Steven Tripp, a Dysart et al municipal employee.
