On May 9, 2022, shortly after 2:00 a.m., members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a disturbance where a person was choked at an apartment complex on West Street in the Town of Blind River.
Police attended the apartment and knocked on the door. They were confronted by a person that was intoxicated by drug that had pulled a knife on the officers. The individual would not co-operate or comply with any directions given by officers. In consequence, police utilized the taser to safely and effectively carry out an arrest.
The individual was taken to hospital and later released into police custody.
As a result, Austin MERCIECA, 20 years-of-age, from Blind River, was charged with:
Assault A Peace Officer with a Weapon, contrary to section 270.01(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC) (three counts)
Assault Cause Bodily Harm-Choke, Suffocate or Strangle, contrary to section 267(c) of the CC
Assault, contrary to section 266 of the CC
Fail to Comply with Probation Order, contrary to section 733.1(1) of the CC
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on June 2, 2022
