, The Director of the Special Investigations Unit has caused an assault causing bodily harm charge to be laid against a constable with the North Bay Police Service.
An SIU investigation found the following:
- On March 15, 2014, a 40-year-old man attended the Fox and Fiddle Pub at 112 Spencer Avenue in North Bay.
- Sometime after midnight, there was an altercation involving a number of patrons of the pub.
- A North Bay Police Service officer intervened and allegedly assaulted the 40-year-old man.
As a result of this investigation, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, says there are reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed the criminal offence of 'assault cause bodily harm'. Loparco has caused a charge to be laid.
North Bay Police Service Constable Christian Elia is now facing one count of 'assault cause bodily harm', contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, in relation to this incident.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at the North Bay Courthouse on July 5.
Separate sources tell BayToday that Elia was off duty at the time of the fight, although police were called to break it up.
The matter is now before the courts and the SIU says, "In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment".
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.
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