Ontario’s police watchdog says there are no reasonable grounds to charge an officer who shot and killed a 28-year-old man in Mississauga.
The Special Investigations Unit says Peel Regional Police officers were investigating Jamal Francique for allegedly dealing drugs and possessing a firearm.
The SIU says they were unable to confirm if Mr. Francique had a gun or was dealing drugs, but decided to arrest him for allegedly breaching bail conditions.
Several plainclothes officers and their unmarked vehicles planned to surround Mr. Francique after he got into his car, but one officer was late blocking him around 5:45 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020.
The SIU says Mr. Francique accelerated and struck one car and was approaching another when an officer on foot fired four times.
The watchdog says officers did not approach the car for fears of a gun – which was later found in Mr. Francique’s satchel – and waited until tactical officers arrived more than two hours later.
Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.