Northern Ont. OPP officer charged with assault

In a news release this week, Joseph Martino, the director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, said they had reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence. (File)

An Ontario Provincial Police officer working in Sioux Lookout has been charged with assault in connection with an arrest earlier this year.

Const. Michael Berger has been charged with one count of assault and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sioux Lookout on July 29.

Reasonable grounds

In a news release this week, Joseph Martino, the director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, said they had reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence.

The charges relate to a serious injury sustained by a 50-year-old man during his arrest on Jan. 31 in the community.

“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 release said.

None of the charges have been tested in court.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates police and other agencies in cases where someone is hurt or killed, or when a firearm or other weapon is used.

All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians and the conclusions of the investigations must be made public.