Latest news with #TBPS
CBC
23-05-2025
- CBC
Assault charges against Thunder Bay Police officer withdrawn
The Ontario Court of Justice withdrew an assault charge against a Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer this week. Const. Taylor Auger was charged with assault causing bodily harm after a 33-year-old was injured after being arrested in April 2023, according to the province's police watchdog. The Crown withdrew the charges on Tuesday, said a court representative. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had charged Auger in June 2024 in relation to the man's serious injury, said the SIU in a news release at the time. The man had been arrested for public intoxication and taken to the police station, the release said. "At the station, there was an interaction between (Auger) and the man. The man was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury," said the SIU release. Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) said it placed Auger on administrative duties after he was charged.
CTV News
03-05-2025
- CTV News
Thunder Bay police officer charged following collision last year
A Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in connection with a 2024 collision that followed a police pursuit. The Ontario Provincial Police announced the charge against a 37-year-old constable in a news release this week. The incident occurred on Feb. 29, 2024, when a TBPS vehicle and a civilian car collided at the southern end of Neebing Avenue. Police watchdog investigation closed, outside of mandate According to a previous news release from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the officer had been pursuing the 31-year-old male driver for roughly four-and-a-half minutes over seven kilometres before the crash. The man was subsequently arrested and taken to hospital. The SIU, Ontario's civilian police oversight agency, initially investigated but discontinued its probe in June 2024 after reviewing medical records. Director Joseph Martino stated no fractures or serious injuries were confirmed, meaning the incident fell outside the SIU's mandate. The OPP took over the case at TBPS's request in July 2024. The officer is scheduled to appear in court on May 28 to answer the dangerous operation charge. CTV News contacted TBPS about the officer's employment status but has not received a response. Previous disciplinary issues The constable involved has previously faced disciplinary action. In 2023, they pleaded guilty at a Police Services Act hearing to three counts of misconduct – discreditable conduct, insubordination, and unlawful exercise of authority – stemming from a January 2022 encounter with an Indigenous man. Body-worn camera footage showed the officer using profanity, grabbing the man's arm, and pushing him against a bus shelter. As a result, the officer was temporarily demoted and ordered to complete Indigenous-focused training.
CBC
11-03-2025
- CBC
TBPS officer sentenced to probation after assault conviction
Social Sharing Thunder Bay Police Service Cst. Andrew Frankow was sentenced Friday after being convicted of assault causing bodily harm. Frankow was given a suspended sentence, which means he won't serve any jail time. He received two years probation and will be required to complete 150 hours of community service. Frankow assaulted a man in Thunder Bay in April 2022, causing him bodily harm, according to court documents obtained by CBC News. Frankow was suspended in June 2022. He pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty of assault causing bodily harm in September 2023. He appeared in restorative justice court multiple times over the course of 2024, according to court documents. Restorative justice aims to rehabilitate offenders by considering the root causes behind the behaviours that led them to the justice system in the first place. It also attempts to get offenders to address how their actions have impacted their community, according to a 2019 press release from the provincial attorney general. On paid suspension since 2022 Frankow has been on paid suspension from TBPS since 2022. Under the Police Services Act, police officers are almost always required to be paid while suspended. They can be suspended without pay if they were both convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment. The act was overhauled and the changes took effect last year. Now, chiefs can also suspend without pay if the officer is charged with a serious off-duty offence that could also lead to their firing, or if an officer is in custody or on bail with conditions that would interfere with their ability to do their job. The court information sheet indicates the conditions on Frankow's probation include providing a DNA sample. The sheet does not indicate he will be subject to a weapons prohibition or driving prohibition. TBPS did not confirm or deny whether Frankow is still suspended or employed at the service. "Any internal employment processes will begin following the conclusion of criminal proceedings in their entirety. Employment matters are confidential in nature unless they progress to a public hearing stage," said a TBPS spokesperson in an emailed response. Multiple other TBPS constables are scheduled for assault-related court appearances. Taylor Auger, Ryan Dougherty and Michael Moore were charged with assault causing bodily harm relating to separate alleged incidents in 2023 and 2024. Their charges all are scheduled to be addressed in March and April. TBPS Staff Sgt. Michael Dimini is facing assault and breach of trust charges, which are scheduled for trial confirmation hearings in April and May. The court has previously dismissed one charge of assault against him.
CBC
24-02-2025
- CBC
Trial set to start today for Thunder Bay, Ont., police officer charged in 2014 assault
The first of three scheduled trials for a suspended Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer was set to begin this morning at the city's courthouse. The assault trial for Staff Sgt. Michael Dimini stems from an incident that allegedly occurred in the northwestern Ontario city in August 2014, according to court documents obtained by CBC. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced charges against Dimini in December 2023 following a nearly two-year investigation. He was originally charged with two counts of assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. Dimini has three separate trials set for 2025, also including: A trial confirmation hearing scheduled for April in relation to an alleged assault in October 2016. A May trial confirmation hearing scheduled in regards to the breach of trust trial, in connection with his duties as a police officer in November 2020. Each of the matters will be heard by different out-of-town judges. None of the charges against Dimini have been proven in court. He has pleaded not guilty. Officer suspended with pay Dimini was released from custody after being charged. He was suspended from TBPS with pay as required by the Police Services Act. His release was conditional upon not possessing any weapons or firearms and refraining from contacting 85 different people. Alleged misconduct by Dimini was also laid out in human rights complaints filed to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. WATCH | Some of the controversies facing Thunder Bay police and its leadership: Thunder Bay police chief vows to rebuild public trust 10 months ago Duration 2:01 The Thunder Bay Police Service vowed to rebuild public trust after charges were filed against a former chief, but some community members and Indigenous leaders say they're skeptical that the force can reform. He's among multiple people linked to Thunder Bay's embattled police force who are currently facing charges. A former TBPS police chief and former TBPS lawyer both face criminal charges stemming from the same 2021 OPP investigation that led to the breach of trust charges against Dimini. Former police chief Sylvie Hauth and ex-Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbourne were charged with multiple obstruction and breach of trust offences for allegedly "practising deception" in interactions with the Thunder Bay police board. Constables Taylor Auger, Ryan Dougherty, Andrew Frankow and Michael Moore were charged with assault causing bodily harm relating to separate alleged incidents in 2023 and 2024. Auger's charges are scheduled to be spoken to on Thursday, while Dougherty's, Frankow's and Moore's charges are scheduled to be addressed in March and April. Const. Peter Ritchie, who was charged with property theft and breach of trust in October 2024, is scheduled to have his case heard before the court in March. In addition to the litany of criminal charges, TBPS has faced scrutiny for its handling of death and missing-persons cases. Ontario's inspector general of policing announced in October 2024 he would evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing-person investigations, and its compliance wit the province's policing legislation.
CBC
24-02-2025
- CBC
Trial set to start today for Thunder Bay police officer charged in 2014 assault
Social Sharing The first of three scheduled trials for a suspended Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer was set to begin this morning at the city's courthouse. The assault trial for Staff Sgt. Michael Dimini stems from an incident that allegedly occurred in Thunder Bay in August 2014, according to court documents obtained by CBC. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced charges against Dimini in December 2023 following a nearly two-year investigation. He was originally charged with two counts of assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. Dimini has three separate trials set for 2025, also including: A trial confirmation hearing is scheduled for April in relation to an alleged assault in October 2016. A May trial confirmation hearing is scheduled in regards to the breach of trust trial, in connection with his duties as a police officer in November 2020. Each of the matters will be heard by different out-of-town judges. None of the charges against Dimini have been proven in court. He has pleaded not guilty. Officer suspended with pay Dimini was released from custody after being charged. He was suspended from TBPS with pay as required by the Police Services Act. His release was conditional upon not possessing any weapons or firearms and refraining from contacting 85 different people. Alleged misconduct by Dimini was also laid out in human rights complaints filed to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. WATCH | Some of the controversies facing Thunder Bay police and its leadership: Thunder Bay police chief vows to rebuild public trust 10 months ago Duration 2:01 The Thunder Bay Police Service vowed to rebuild public trust after charges were filed against a former chief, but some community members and Indigenous leaders say they're skeptical that the force can reform. He's among multiple people linked to Thunder Bay's embattled police force who are currently facing charges. A former TBPS police chief and former TBPS lawyer both face criminal charges stemming from the same 2021 OPP investigation that led to the breach of trust charges against Dimini. Former police chief Sylvie Hauth and ex-Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbourne were charged with multiple obstruction and breach of trust offences for allegedly "practising deception" in interactions with the Thunder Bay police board. Constables Taylor Auger, Ryan Dougherty, Andrew Frankow and Michael Moore were charged with assault causing bodily harm relating to separate alleged incidents in 2023 and 2024. Auger's charges are scheduled to be spoken to on Thursday, while Dougherty's, Frankow's and Moore's charges are scheduled to be addressed in March and April. Const. Peter Ritchie, who was charged with property theft and breach of trust in October 2024, is scheduled to have his case heard before the court in March. In addition to the litany of criminal charges, TBPS has faced scrutiny for its handling of death and missing-persons cases. Ontario's inspector general of policing announced in October 2024 he would evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing-person investigations, and its compliance wit the province's policing legislation.
