Sault boardwalk assault case grows as another teen charged

A 2021 photo of St. Mary's River Waterfront Boardwalk. (File photo/Supplied/Tourism Sault Ste. Marie)

A 15-year-old has been charged with assault in connection with an incident on a Sault Ste. Marie boardwalk over the weekend, police said Wednesday, adding to the three teenagers already facing charges in the case.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said officers were dispatched to St Mary’s River Drive around 8:30 p.m. on July 4 after 911 operators received a report of a disturbance involving youth.

Police said the initial investigation revealed that three accused — two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old — assaulted a youth victim by punching them. When an adult at the scene attempted to intervene, the accused also punched that individual.

Additional charge laid

Following the initial arrests shortly before and after midnight on July 4 and July 5, investigators continued to examine the events and identified another youth allegedly involved in a separate assault at the same scene.

“A warrant was obtained for the accused’s arrest,” police said in Wednesday’s news release.

“On July 7, officers located and arrested the accused.”

Police said their investigation revealed that this accused punched another youth victim at the scene, who sustained minor physical injuries.

The 15-year-old is charged with one count of assault and was released on an undertaking. They are scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 25.

Police have not disclosed the relationship, if any, between the fourth accused and the other youth involved in the initial incident.

Initial investigation

“An investigation revealed the three accused assaulted a youth victim by punching them and punched an adult victim who attempted to intervene,” police said their previous news release.

“The accused and the youth victim are known to one another.”

Police said no physical injuries were reported as a result of the initial altercation.

The three other teenagers were each charged with two counts of assault, also released on undertakings and are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 29.