News Release
OPP Officer in Thunder Bay Charged with Sexual Assault
Case Number: 19-PSA-027
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused a charge to be laid against an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer in relation to an incident that reportedly occurred in the early 2000’s.
The SIU was contacted by the OPP on February 5, 2019 regarding a complaint received that same day of a sexual nature against the officer with the Thunder Bay detachment. The alleged sexual assault reportedly occurred sometime between April of 2001 and March of 2002 against a woman.
As a result of the SIU investigation, 43-year-old OPP Constable John Hayes is facing one count of sexual assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code.
Constable Hayes is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 125 Brodie Street North in Thunder Bay on July 16, 2019.
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