Trial set to start today for Thunder Bay, Ont., police officer charged in 2014 assault

The first of three scheduled trials for a suspended Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer was set to begin this morning at the city's courthouse.

The assault trial for Staff Sgt. Michael Dimini stems from an incident that allegedly occurred in the northwestern Ontario city in August 2014, according to court documents obtained by CBC. 

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced charges against Dimini in December 2023 following a nearly two-year investigation. He was originally charged with two counts of assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice.

Dimini has three separate trials set for 2025, also including:

• A trial confirmation hearing scheduled for April in relation to an alleged assault in October 2016.
• A May trial confirmation hearing scheduled in regards to the breach of trust trial, in connection with his duties as a police officer in November 2020. 

Each of the matters will be heard by different out-of-town judges. 

None of the charges against Dimini have been proven in court. He has pleaded not guilty. 

Officer suspended with pay

Dimini was released from custody after being charged. He was suspended from TBPS with pay as required by the Police Services Act. His release was conditional upon not possessing any weapons or firearms and refraining from contacting 85 different people. 

Alleged misconduct by Dimini was also laid out in human rights complaints filed to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. 

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He's among multiple people linked to Thunder Bay's embattled police force who are currently facing charges.  

A former TBPS police chief and former TBPS lawyer both face criminal charges stemming from the same 2021 OPP investigation that led to the breach of trust charges against Dimini. Former police chief Sylvie Hauth and ex-Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbourne were charged with multiple obstruction and breach of trust offences for allegedly "practising deception" in interactions with the Thunder Bay police board. 

Constables Taylor Auger, Ryan Dougherty, Andrew Frankow and Michael Moore were charged with assault causing bodily harm relating to separate alleged incidents in 2023 and 2024. Auger's charges are scheduled to be spoken to on Thursday, while Dougherty's, Frankow's and Moore's charges are scheduled to be addressed in March and April.

Const. Peter Ritchie, who was charged with property theft and breach of trust in October 2024, is scheduled to have his case heard before the court in March.

In addition to the litany of criminal charges, TBPS has faced scrutiny for its handling of death and missing-persons cases. 

Ontario's inspector general of policing announced in October 2024 he would evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing-person investigations, and its compliance wit the province's policing legislation.