.The North Bay Police Service has issued its own news release after the province's Special Investigations Unit yesterday announced it had laid assault charges against North Bay Constable Christian Elia.
See story here: Assault causing bodily harm charge laid against North Bay cop.
"Following media requests for comments regarding the Special Investigations Unit media release that was issued yesterday, please note the following," says the release.
"The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is an arm’s length agency. Under the Police Services Act, the North Bay Police Service cannot comment on SIU investigations.
"We refer the media to this section of the PSA: ONTARIO REGULATION 267/10, 12. (2) “the police force and members of a police force shall not, during the course of an investigation by the SIU into an incident, disclose to any person any information with respect to the incident or the investigation.”
The release says that the North Bay Police Service is "currently conducting an internal investigation."
"As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst. Christian Elia is not under any restrictions. He continues to work with his platoon as a member of the North Bay Police Service."
City police would not comment, but sources say Constable Elia was off duty at the time of the fight, and no arrests were made at the time of the incident.
