A police officer has been charged with manslaughter after killing a man in Niagara Falls, Ont., last year, the Ontario police watchdog said.
On July 30, 2025, officers went to a hotel in Niagara Falls trying to find a man, 40, in relation to parole violations. After an interaction between officers and the man, an officer shot his firearm and struck the man, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said in a news release the officer, Const. Andrew Lawson from the Toronto Police Service, was charged with manslaughter by SIU director Joseph Martino.
Lawson was arrested on Wednesday at SIU headquarters, according to the news release, and has since been released “on an undertaking with conditions.”
According to the SIU, officers from multiple police services with the Ontario Provincial Police’s Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Unit squad were in the area on July 30 to arrest the man, who was subject to an outstanding Canada-wide parole revocation warrant.
At the time of the incident, the SIU said an officer was also taken to hospital with a serious injury.
Based on a photo the unit shared on social media site X in July, the shooting happened near the Ramada by Wyndham hotel.
A constable by the same name received a Governor General exemplary service medal in 2016 recognizing 20 years of service.
The SIU investigates police interactions with the public that involve death, serious injury or sexual assault.
