
February 15, 2019 · 0 Comments
By Mike Baker
The Orangeville Police Service (OPS) officer involved in an altercation with a teenage student at Westside Secondary School late last year has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing by the local force.
In a release distributed to Orangeville-area media last week, OPS Deputy Chief Leah Gilfoy confirmed the two-month investigation had been concluded and that the officer in question, along with other officers in attendance at the scene, would face no further action.
“The tactics that the officers used, given the situation at hand, were in accordance with the Ontario Use of Force Continuum and within his authority as a peace officer in the Province of Ontario,” said Deputy Chief Gilfoy.
Officers were called in to defuse a situation at Westside Secondary School on Nov. 20. The incident was believed to involve a group of youths from a school outside of Orangeville. The group was apparently looking for specific students who were involved in an ongoing dispute. School staff members were concerned a fight may break out and requested assistance from OPS.
Officers attended the school and attempted to disperse the crowd of students, who, a previous OPS release states, were engaged in a heated verbal argument. While dealing with the situation, a threat was made, by a youth, towards an officer and force was used by the officer to remove the youth from the crowd.
The incident was captured on camera, with a clip, approximately 45 seconds in length, posted to social media. After being made aware of the video, Deputy Chief Gilfoy called for a thorough investigation.
The review involved watching all available personal video, surveillance video, identifying 18 potential witnesses, interviewing eight of the involved youth and interviewing school staff and witnesses. It also included the review of two previous OPP incidents, two OPS incidents, officers’ notes, dispatching reports, radio transmissions and GPS.
In the end, Deputy Chief Gilfoy concluded that the officers involved conducted themselves appropriately.
“The parents of the young persons have been advised. The local school has been consulted. There will be no further action with respect to this matter,” the OPS release states.
Tip leads to impaired driving charge
Orangeville Police have charged a 27-year-old man with impaired driving after he was discovered passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in a driveway on England Avenue.
On Friday, February 8, at about 9:10 p.m., police received a call from an England Avenue resident concerning a suspicious vehicle parked in the complainant’s driveway with the engine running and the driver apparently unconscious.
Police attended the residence and were able to waken the driver. The officers arrested Kevin Paul Buck, 27, of Orangeville and charged him with operation of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs and operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg/100 mL.
The accused man’s driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded for seven days. He is scheduled to appear in court in Orangeville on February 26 to answer to the allegations.
Female faces fraud charges
Orangeville Police have charged a 35-year-old Orangeville woman with fraud involving making false declarations to Ontario Works.
On Thursday, January 3, police received a call from the County of Dufferin Social Services Department reporting a fraud. The allegations date back to November 2014 and indicate that the female received in excess of $75,000 by making fraudulent claims to Ontario Works.
As a result of the investigation the female attended the Orangeville Police Service on January 24, where she was arrested and charged with fraud over $5000.
Chantelle Ann May Roberts, 35, of Orangeville, was released from police custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Orangeville on March 12 to answer to the allegations.
Witnesses sought in assault incident
Orangeville Police are continuing to appeal for information from anyone who may have witnessed an assault that took place on Broadway near Mill Street in the early morning hours of January 27.
On Sunday, January 27, at approximately 2:00 a.m., police received a call regarding an assault that took place on the sidewalk in the area Broadway and Mill Street in Orangeville. A 24-year-old male was attempting to gain access to a Broadway apartment when he was assaulted by possibly two unknown people at the street level entrance of the residence. The victim received injuries to his face. There is no further description of the suspects. It is believed that the suspects may have been patrons of a licensed restaurant in the area.
Investigation has revealed that a male wearing a cowboy hat was present in the area and may have information regarding the incident.
Police are continuing their investigation and are asking anyone who has further information regarding the incident to contact Orangeville Police Service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com.
Police probe restaurant break-in
Orangeville Police are currently investigating a break-in at a restaurant at the corner of Alder Street and Riddell Road.
On Tuesday, February 5, at approximately 4:30 a.m., police received a call to attend Wild Wings Sports Bar, located in the Alder Street Mews Plaza at 75 Alder Street, regarding an intrusion alarm at the business.
Police attended the scene and found the glass front entrance shattered and the door ajar. Officers cleared the building and discovered that the rear door to the business was also left open. Security video footage revealed that at 4:26 a.m. two suspects entered the business by breaking the front entrance glass door. One suspect wearing a winter parka with fur-lined hood walked directly to the rear of the business while a second suspect wearing a hooded sweat shirt attended behind the bar area. Both suspects left through the rear door of the business. A cash box with an undisclosed amount of money was taken. The suspects are both believed to be males approximately 6 feet tall.
A light coloured vehicle, four-door sedan, was observed in the video footage passing by very close to the front window of the business three minutes after the suspects entered. The vehicle may or may not be involved in the incident.
Police are continuing their investigation and would like to hear from anyone who might have information regarding the incident. Anyone who has further information is asked to contact Orangeville Police Service or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com.