- At approximately 5 p.m. on March 7, OPP officers in Kirkland Lake conducted a traffic stop involving two men and attempted to arrest them for drug-related offences. The driver fled.
- Police attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle in the area of Highway 11 and Portage Bay Road, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
- One of the occupants from the fleeing vehicle was located deceased.
- The other occupant of the vehicle fled the scene on foot. He was located later by police and arrested. The man was not injured.
- A male bystander, a resident of the area who was not involved, was seriously injured and remains in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate in relation to an ongoing investigation in Latchford and surrounding areas.
On March 7, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m., members of the Kirkland Lake Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) initiated a traffic stop in the area of Government Road West and Woods Street in Kirkland Lake. The vehicle failed to stop, and officers from the Kirkland Lake OPP and the Temiskaming OPP engaged in a suspect apprehension pursuit.
As a result of the incident, a shelter-in-place was issued in the Latchford and surrounding area and has since been lifted.
At this time, there are no ongoing concerns for public safety.
One person is deceased, and one person has been taken into custody.
Residents should anticipate an increased police presence in the area.
Highway 11 remains closed from Portage Bay Road to Highway 11B for investigation. Motorists are encouraged to find alternate routes or avoid the area if possible.
The OPP has notified the SIU, which has invoked its mandate. As a result, the OPP will not be able to provide any further information. Any other inquiries should be directed to SIU Communications at siu.media@Ontario.ca.
