News Release
SIU Lays Assault Charge Against Police Officer in Relation to Thunder Bay Arrest
Case Number: 22-OCI-099
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to an interaction with a 33-year-old man in April of 2022. As a result, Director Martino has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that at approximately 4:30 p.m. on April 3, 2022, TBPS officers responded to a bus shelter in front of the Thunder Bay City Hall. There was an interaction between one of the officers and a man, resulting in the man being transported to hospital.
As a result of the SIU investigation, TBPS Constable Andrew Frankow has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 125 Brodie Street North in Thunder Bay on July 19, 2022.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES