Latest news with #ThunderBay
CTV News
19 hours ago
- CTV News
Police who didn't respond to 911 call won't be charged in connection with Thunder Bay woman's death
Jenna Ostberg died overnight Dec. 30, 2023. Before her death, 911 had been called, but police deemed it a Priority 2 case and didn't immediately respond. The family of a Thunder Bay woman who died in 2023 say justice hasn't been served after Ontario's police watchdog concluded that no criminal charges were warranted in the case. Jenna Ostberg died overnight Dec. 30, 2023. Before her death, 911 had been called, but police deemed it a Priority 2 case and didn't immediately respond. The 911 call was later cancelled on the mistaken belief that Ostberg, who was 21, had left the residence. Jenna Ostberg3 Jenna Ostberg's obituary photo. (Supplied) Her body was found hanging in a bedroom the next morning. In a statement issued by their lawyer, her parents, Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, said they were disappointed in the decision, especially after waiting such a long time for the investigation to be completed. 'We continue to live with the reality that Jenna is no longer here and will never be here again,' the statement said. 'We have waited for this report since the SIU first became involved in this matter … more than 18 months ago. This long wait has been incredibly difficult for our family. Throughout this time, we have held on, hoping for answers and accountability.' 'We have waited for this report since the SIU first became involved in this matter … more than 18 months ago. This long wait has been incredibly difficult for our family. Throughout this time, we have held on, hoping for answers and accountability.' — Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, Jenna's parents The report, released by SIU director Joseph Martino on July 15, described the sequence of events the night Ostberg died. Police were called to respond to a disturbance involving Ostberg and a man. The investigation found that the man had a no-contact order involving Ostberg because of a previous domestic violence incident. The night of her death, she had been texting the man, asking him if she could come to his residence. While he said no, 'the complainant was insistent,' Martino said in his incident narrative. Text messages 'In a text message time-stamped 1:37 a.m. (Dec. 30, 2023), the complainant told (the man) to unlock the door. Shortly after, she entered the home at the residence and went upstairs to (his) bedroom.' The two began arguing, prompting someone else in the house to call 911 and ask police to come and remove her from the residence. The female caller told the 911 operator about the non-contact order and the fact that Ostberg was inebriated. By this time, it was 2:05 a.m. The woman who called 911 also told the man to separate from Ostberg and go to the basement to sleep, and he complied. The person who called 911 fell asleep briefly, waking around 15 minutes later to find the house silent. So she called 911 again and said she assumed Ostberg had left the home and there was no longer an emergency. 'The cancelled call was sent to the (police officer) via the records management system as a task to be reviewed,' Martino wrote. Decided to cancel 911 call 'At that point, the (officer) could either confirm the cancellation or send it back to be reopened. In the event of the latter, the call would again be queued for dispatch. At about 3:08 a.m., the (officer) confirmed the cancellation in the system.' Then around 10:30 a.m., the man woke up and walked upstairs from the basement back to his bedroom. 'He was sitting on his bed when he turned and saw (Ostberg) hanging in the closet,' the SIU said. 'He rushed to her, unwrapped a scarf from around her neck, laid her on the floor and called 911 ... The time was 10:34 a.m.' Paramedics arrived and pronounced Ostberg dead at 10:39 a.m. In his decision, Martino said that 'there is a case to be made that the (police officer) failed in his duty of care.' 'Faced with a domestic disturbance call involving alcohol and potential violence, arising in the context of a history of violence, one might reasonably have expected a police officer … to err on the side of caution and insist on a police response regardless of a subsequent request for cancellation,' Martino wrote. Jenna Ostberg In a statement issued by their lawyer, Jenna Ostberg's parents said they were disappointed in the decision, especially after waiting such a long time for the investigation to be completed. (Facebook photo) 'On the other hand, it may be the policy did not go so far as to say that a call originally categorized as a Priority 2 could not be cancelled if circumstances changed.' In this case, police were told that Ostberg had left the residence, meaning the police officer 'could reasonably believe that any potential for violence had dissipated and that he was within his rights to cancel the call.' Whether the officer's decision was negligent, the issue was 'whether any such negligence amounted to a marked and substantial departure from a reasonable level of care,' Martino wrote. Medical opinion in this case is that death from hanging happens relatively quickly. 'This leaves open the distinct possibility that the complainant hung herself and was dead shortly after her last known cellphone activity at 2:42 a.m.,' Martino wrote. 'If that is what happened, and any criminal negligence on the part of the (police officer) arose at or after he confirmed the cancellation at 3:08 a.m., then the officer's conduct cannot be said to have caused or contributed to the death.' Was a 'busy night' Considering the fact that the 911 call was cancelled at 2:23 a.m., and the last activity on the victim's cellphone was 2:42 a.m., 'that effectively left the officer about 19 minutes in which to turn his attention to the task, consider his options, and make a decision,' Martino said. 'Bearing in mind that there is evidence that it was a busy night in the communications centre and the officer would have been occupied with other matters, and that at least several minutes would have elapsed before officers could attend at the house in any event, I am unable to reasonably conclude in this condensed window of time that any negligence by (police) transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law.' But in their statement, Ostberg's parents said that 'the SIU report does not reflect the full person Jenna was.' 'She was so much more than what is written in those pages. As the police service responsible for protecting First Nations people in Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Police Service has given us no reason to feel relief, closure or trust,' her parents said. 'We have no confidence in their ability to properly investigate deaths or ensure the safety of First Nations people. We will continue to fight for our daughter to have her voice be heard now that she cannot speak for herself.' For its part, the Thunder Bay Police Service said it has begun an internal review. Thunder Bay police Thunder Bay Police Service said it will conduct "its required administrative review in accordance with Section 81 of the Community Safety and Policing Act." (Supplied) 'With the conclusion of the SIU investigation, the Thunder Bay Police Service will now commence its required administrative review in accordance with Section 81 of the Community Safety and Policing Act,' police said in a statement. 'The purpose of the administrative investigation is to review member conduct, the policing provided, and procedures ... as they relate to the incident. This administrative review will be reported to the Thunder Bay Police Service Board upon completion.' 'Jenna's family remains convinced that had the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to the first 911 call and followed their policy, Jenna would be alive today.' — Jenna Ostberg's family However, the family said that the SIU 'failed to properly account for the circumstances surrounding her death, and the Thunder Bay Police's well-documented history of failing to protect the safety of First Nations persons in this city.' 'The SIU's report comes after years of public outcry demanding accountability for the Thunder Bay Police Service, which in this case failed to respond despite three separate 911 calls made that day,' the statement continued. 'Jenna was loved by many and is deeply missed by her family, friends, and community.' Legal counsel for the Ostberg family, Julian Falconer of Falconers LLP, said the family needs more time to study the SIU report 'and consider their next steps.' 'Jenna's family remains convinced that had the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to the first 911 call and followed their policy, Jenna would be alive today. We will continue to support Jenna's family while they consider their options and look to ensure that all parties who potentially had a role in Jenna's death will be held accountable.' Read the full SIU report here.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Thunder Bay, Ont., police won't be charged in connection with woman's death in 2023
Jenna Ostberg died overnight Dec. 30, 2023. Before her death, 911 had been called, but police deemed it a Priority 2 case and didn't immediately respond. The family of a Thunder Bay woman who died in 2023 say justice hasn't been served after Ontario's police watchdog concluded that no criminal charges were warranted in the case. Jenna Ostberg died overnight Dec. 30, 2023. Before her death, 911 had been called, but police deemed it a Priority 2 case and didn't immediately respond. The 911 call was later cancelled on the mistaken belief that Ostberg, who was 21, had left the residence. Jenna Ostberg3 Jenna Ostberg's obituary photo. (Supplied) Her body was found hanging in a bedroom the next morning. In a statement issued by their lawyer, her parents, Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, said they were disappointed in the decision, especially after waiting such a long time for the investigation to be completed. 'We continue to live with the reality that Jenna is no longer here and will never be here again,' the statement said. 'We have waited for this report since the SIU first became involved in this matter … more than 18 months ago. This long wait has been incredibly difficult for our family. Throughout this time, we have held on, hoping for answers and accountability.' 'We have waited for this report since the SIU first became involved in this matter … more than 18 months ago. This long wait has been incredibly difficult for our family. Throughout this time, we have held on, hoping for answers and accountability.' — Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, Jenna's parents The report, released by SIU director Joseph Martino on July 15, described the sequence of events the night Ostberg died. Police were called to respond to a disturbance involving Ostberg and a man. The investigation found that the man had a no-contact order involving Ostberg because of a previous domestic violence incident. The night of her death, she had been texting the man, asking him if she could come to his residence. While he said no, 'the complainant was insistent,' Martino said in his incident narrative. Text messages 'In a text message time-stamped 1:37 a.m. (Dec. 30, 2023), the complainant told (the man) to unlock the door. Shortly after, she entered the home at the residence and went upstairs to (his) bedroom.' The two began arguing, prompting someone else in the house to call 911 and ask police to come and remove her from the residence. The female caller told the 911 operator about the non-contact order and the fact that Ostberg was inebriated. By this time, it was 2:05 a.m. The woman who called 911 also told the man to separate from Ostberg and go to the basement to sleep, and he complied. The person who called 911 fell asleep briefly, waking around 15 minutes later to find the house silent. So she called 911 again and said she assumed Ostberg had left the home and there was no longer an emergency. 'The cancelled call was sent to the (police officer) via the records management system as a task to be reviewed,' Martino wrote. Decided to cancel 911 call 'At that point, the (officer) could either confirm the cancellation or send it back to be reopened. In the event of the latter, the call would again be queued for dispatch. At about 3:08 a.m., the (officer) confirmed the cancellation in the system.' Then around 10:30 a.m., the man woke up and walked upstairs from the basement back to his bedroom. 'He was sitting on his bed when he turned and saw (Ostberg) hanging in the closet,' the SIU said. 'He rushed to her, unwrapped a scarf from around her neck, laid her on the floor and called 911 ... The time was 10:34 a.m.' Paramedics arrived and pronounced Ostberg dead at 10:39 a.m. In his decision, Martino said that 'there is a case to be made that the (police officer) failed in his duty of care.' 'Faced with a domestic disturbance call involving alcohol and potential violence, arising in the context of a history of violence, one might reasonably have expected a police officer … to err on the side of caution and insist on a police response regardless of a subsequent request for cancellation,' Martino wrote. Jenna Ostberg In a statement issued by their lawyer, Jenna Ostberg's parents said they were disappointed in the decision, especially after waiting such a long time for the investigation to be completed. (Facebook photo) 'On the other hand, it may be the policy did not go so far as to say that a call originally categorized as a Priority 2 could not be cancelled if circumstances changed.' In this case, police were told that Ostberg had left the residence, meaning the police officer 'could reasonably believe that any potential for violence had dissipated and that he was within his rights to cancel the call.' Whether the officer's decision was negligent, the issue was 'whether any such negligence amounted to a marked and substantial departure from a reasonable level of care,' Martino wrote. Medical opinion in this case is that death from hanging happens relatively quickly. 'This leaves open the distinct possibility that the complainant hung herself and was dead shortly after her last known cellphone activity at 2:42 a.m.,' Martino wrote. 'If that is what happened, and any criminal negligence on the part of the (police officer) arose at or after he confirmed the cancellation at 3:08 a.m., then the officer's conduct cannot be said to have caused or contributed to the death.' Was a 'busy night' Considering the fact that the 911 call was cancelled at 2:23 a.m., and the last activity on the victim's cellphone was 2:42 a.m., 'that effectively left the officer about 19 minutes in which to turn his attention to the task, consider his options, and make a decision,' Martino said. 'Bearing in mind that there is evidence that it was a busy night in the communications centre and the officer would have been occupied with other matters, and that at least several minutes would have elapsed before officers could attend at the house in any event, I am unable to reasonably conclude in this condensed window of time that any negligence by (police) transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law.' But in their statement, Ostberg's parents said that 'the SIU report does not reflect the full person Jenna was.' 'She was so much more than what is written in those pages. As the police service responsible for protecting First Nations people in Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Police Service has given us no reason to feel relief, closure or trust,' her parents said. 'We have no confidence in their ability to properly investigate deaths or ensure the safety of First Nations people. We will continue to fight for our daughter to have her voice be heard now that she cannot speak for herself.' For its part, the Thunder Bay Police Service said it has begun an internal review. Thunder Bay police Thunder Bay Police Service said it will conduct "its required administrative review in accordance with Section 81 of the Community Safety and Policing Act." (Supplied) 'With the conclusion of the SIU investigation, the Thunder Bay Police Service will now commence its required administrative review in accordance with Section 81 of the Community Safety and Policing Act,' police said in a statement. 'The purpose of the administrative investigation is to review member conduct, the policing provided, and procedures ... as they relate to the incident. This administrative review will be reported to the Thunder Bay Police Service Board upon completion.' 'Jenna's family remains convinced that had the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to the first 911 call and followed their policy, Jenna would be alive today.' — Jenna Ostberg's family However, the family said that the SIU 'failed to properly account for the circumstances surrounding her death, and the Thunder Bay Police's well-documented history of failing to protect the safety of First Nations persons in this city.' 'The SIU's report comes after years of public outcry demanding accountability for the Thunder Bay Police Service, which in this case failed to respond despite three separate 911 calls made that day,' the statement continued. 'Jenna was loved by many and is deeply missed by her family, friends, and community.' Legal counsel for the Ostberg family, Julian Falconer of Falconers LLP, said the family needs more time to study the SIU report 'and consider their next steps.' 'Jenna's family remains convinced that had the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to the first 911 call and followed their policy, Jenna would be alive today. We will continue to support Jenna's family while they consider their options and look to ensure that all parties who potentially had a role in Jenna's death will be held accountable.' Read the full SIU report here.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Inquest to be held into 2020 death of New Brunswick mining worker in northwestern Ontario
The Ontario coroner has announced an inquest into the death of a 64-year-old New Brunswick mining worker northwest of Thunder Bay in 2020 that resulted in hefty fines for the companies involved. Edouard Gallant died on May 27, 2020, after sustaining critical injuries in a run of muck (an uncontrolled flow of blasted ore saturated with concrete and water) at Lac des Iles Mine. The open-pit, underground palladium facility is within Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, known as Gull Bay First Nation. Gallant, from Dunlop, N.B., was employed by contractor SCR Mining and Tunnelling at the time. In October 2023, Impala Canada was fined $300,000 and SCR was fined $130,000 for failing to ensure safety provisions in the workplace in connection with Gallant's death. Recently, Impala Canada CEO Tim Hill announced that the mine will shut down by May 2026 due to slumping palladium prices. The inquest, which is mandatory under the Coroners Act, was announced Tuesday by Dr. Kevin Miller, regional supervising coroner for the northwest region. The date and location have yet to be announced. An inquest's five-person jury is tasked with identifying who died, when and where they died, their medical cause of death, and by what means they died — classified as either natural causes, accident, homicide, suicide or undetermined. Jurors cannot assign blame or make any legal judgments, but may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths. Reasons behind 2023 fines In 2023, Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said "muck travels through ore passes by tumbling and sliding along the pass. "Over time, ore pass walls can become damaged and enlarged, allowing the surrounding rock to fail and fall into the pass, which can negatively affect mine production." In Gallant's case, he was at the bottom of the ore pass, trying to remove the lockout locks so that additional muck could be evacuated, the ministry said. "The worker, communicating with colleagues at the top of the ore pass with a radio, advised there was some trouble getting the muck to come down the ore pass to the skip. Very shortly after, the muck dropped suddenly." The muck then "overwhelmed the protective barriers at the base of the ore pass, fatally injuring the worker." The ministry said Lac des Iles failed to comply with Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, since its risk assessment at the time should have "considered the location and placement of SCR personnel during the muck draw-down activities that could pose a danger to workers." Furthermore, the owner of an underground mine must develop and maintain a written water management program with measures and procedures to prevent unwanted or uncontrolled flows of water in all areas of the mine, including ore passes, the Ministry of Labour said. However, "because the mine's ore passes are typically dry, [Lac des Iles's] plan did not include procedures to guard against the addition and accumulation of water in ore passes related to repair activities."
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Thunder Bay City Council changes mind on shelter village site again
Thunder Bay's proposed temporary shelter village won't be built on Miles Street East. Council approved the site — which was recommended by city administration — at its July 14 meeting. However, on Monday night, councillors voted against ratifying that decision, instead voting in support of a location next to 8th Avenue, known as the Hillyard site. "City council voted for the status quo, so at least in the south core, we're just looking at more of the same," said Coun. Brian Hamilton, who represents the McKellar Ward. The Miles Street East site is part of that ward. "Tough moment for those of us that have been listening to the experts, consulting with the organizations, and really trying to advocate for a well-balanced solution that balances the needs of ... business as well as helping people move their lives forward," Hamilton said. "Tough, emotional night here." Hamilton voted to ratify the Miles Street East site on Monday. Councillors Greg Johnsen, Kristen Oliver, Kasey Etreni, Shelby Ch'ng, and Andrew Foulds also voted in favour of ratification. Councillors Rajni Agarwal, Mark Bentz, Albert Aiello, Dominic Pasqualino, Michael Zussino, Trevor Giertuga, and Mayor Ken Boshcoff voted against. City Manager John Collin said city administration chose Miles Street East because it was the site that offered the best chance for the project to succeed. Administration has noted in the past that the site is close to services that the occupants regularly access. The village would include about 80 sleeping cabins for use by the city's unhoused population, with the goal of helping them transition to permanent housing. In addition, the Miles Street East site is ready for construction, and easy to access by emergency services. Regarding the Hillyard site, Bentz said it has some positives. "It doesn't put revitalization at risk," he said during the meeting. "It offers three times the land area compared to Miles." "It's rather isolated from residential uses." There are some challenges, however, Bentz said, including the site being located near to an active transportation corridor and an off-leash dog park. In addition, Bentz said, there is limited information available in terms of environmental concerns with the site, and it's further away from services. Hamilton had concerns about choosing a new site "on the fly." "I'm certainly not interested in spending money on a site that is not tested," he said. "It has not passed the consultation publicly, and passed the smell test of our senior leadership, and the organizations that are about to serve the people." "This is just throwing spaghetti on the wall. I'm not interested in in throwing good money after bad." Hamilton voted against the Hillyard site, as did Foulds, Johnsen, and Giertuga.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Thunder Bay, Ont., police seize $270K in drugs, arrest three suspects
Thunder Bay police say they have arrested three people in a major drug bust involving cocaine, fentanyl and other substances worth more than $270,000. Thunder Bay police say they have arrested three people in a major drug bust involving cocaine, fentanyl and other substances worth more than $270,000. The arrests took place between June 24 and July 3, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release. 'The arrests were the result of a four-week investigation into the trafficking of illegal drugs and substances in northwestern Ontario,' the release said. Thunder Bay Police were also involved in the operation, along with the OPP's crime enforcement bureau and the North West canine unit. Police seized drugs believed to be two kilograms of cocaine, 250 grams of fentanyl, hundreds of hydromorphone tablets, LSD powder and 12 pounds of illicit cannabis. 'Other items associated (with) drug trafficking' were also seized, police said. A 29-year-old man from Mississauga and a 25-year-old woman from Thunder Bay have been charged with drug trafficking offences. A 40-year-old woman from Thunder Bay was charged with possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000. The accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay at a later date. Anyone with any information about the possession, manufacturing or trafficking of illicit drugs should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
