Police watchdog investigating after Ottawa officer shot accused hostage taker

The province’s police watchdog is investigating after an Ottawa officer shot a man accused of holding a woman hostage at knifepoint.

Police say they got a 911 call at 7 a.m. on Thursday saying the 42-year-old man was holding a woman hostage inside a Kanata home.

The Special Investigations Unit says officers tried to negotiate with the man until 9 p.m., when they forced their way into the home to rescue the woman and shot the suspect.

Police say he was arrested and is in the hospital in stable condition.

The SIU says it has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to the case.

The police watchdog is urging anyone with information about the incident to contact them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 3, 2026.