Special investigation of local death

May 5, 2016

The death of a 26-year-old man in Bancroft is the subject of an investigation by the province’s Special Investigations Unit.
On April 25, the Ontario Provincial Police received reports of an assault and threatening behavior. Around 7:30 p.m., officers attended – but did not enter – a residence near Highway 28 and Egan Chutes Provincial Park. The OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit was present.

Shortly after 10 p.m., officers entered the residence on a warrant and found the body of a 26-year-old man.

The SIU has designated one subject officer and 13 witness officers as part of this investigation. Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to this incident.

The Special Investigations Unit (the “SIU” or the “Unit”) conducts is an ‘arms-length’ branch of the Attorney General’s office. It conducts investigations of incidents involving the police that have resulted in death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault. The SIU is a civilian law enforcement agency independent of the police. The SIU is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529

RIDE stop leads to impaired charge

During the afternoon of April 30, police officers with the Bancroft Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a RIDE stop check program on Chemaushgon Road in the town of Bancroft. During that program, police determined that a driver had been consuming alcohol. The driver provided a breath sample into a roadside screening device, which indicated that the driver’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.

The driver of the vehicle was arrested and brought back to the Bancroft OPP detachment where he provided a sample of his breath to a qualified breathalyser technician. As a result of an analysis of that sample, charged with operating a motor vehicle with more than 80mgs of alcohol, as well as impaired operation of a motor vehicle, is 56-year-old man of Trent Lakes, Ontario. He was released on a promise to appear notice, with a first appearance date in July in Bancroft Court.

Bancroft OPP calls for service

During the week of April 25 through to May 1, Bancroft OPP officers responded to 78 calls for service and laid nine criminal code charges in relation to 5 of those incidents. Officers also set up and conducted five RIDE programs on the roads of North Hastings.
During that same period, officers laid 20 Provincial Offence charges, including 10 charges for speeding, and four charges under the Off Road Vehicle Act.

Submitted