News Release
SIU Charges Thunder Bay Officer with Assault Causing Bodily Harm
Case Number: 23-OCI-107
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in relation to a serious injury suffered by a 33-year-old man in April 2023.
The SIU investigation found the following:
- On April 11, 2023, officers arrested the man outside a business on May Street for being intoxicated in a public place. He was taken to the detachment.
- At the station, there was an interaction between the subject official and the man.
- The man was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst Taylor Auger has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
Cst Auger is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 125 Brodie Street North in Thunder Bay on July 2, 2024, at 9 a.m.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES