News Release
SIU Lays Charge Against Thunder Bay Police Service Officer
Case Number: 22-OCI-296
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer committed a criminal offence in November of 2022.
In the early morning hours of November 8, 2022, there was an interaction between a TBPS officer and a 61-year-old man on Oliver Road near the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. When the man later went to hospital, he was diagnosed with serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst Ryan Dougherty is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm contrary to section 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
Cst Dougherty is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 125 Brodie Street North in Thunder Bay on May 23, 2023.
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the 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