Crossbow damage found in Orléans home was aimed at a coyote
Posted Jul 22, 2026 10:01:18 AM.
Last Updated Jul 22, 2026 10:13:56 AM.
Ottawa police used multiple surveillance cameras to trace the movements of a person who shot a crossbow in an east end community.
In a press release, officers said they responded in early June to a home on Plainhill Drive in Orléans after the homeowner discovered a weapon lodged in the back of their house.
It was a crossbow bolt, a projectile that’s heavier and stiffer than traditional arrows. Police said the incident happened overnight between June 7 and 8.
Through the investigation, police identified a person by conducting neighbourhood canvasses, reviewing camera footage, interviewing people and working with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
On July 17, a person went to the east district station and admitted to firing the crossbow at a coyote while walking along a nearby path. The projectile missed the animal, ricocheted off the pavement and landed in the home where it was found.
Officials said the person was able to be diverted away from charges, which is an alternate process that promotes accountability through conditions rather than prosecution.
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