An Anishinabek Police Service officer was hospitalized following an alleged assault by a suspect during a traffic stop at Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, as per provincial police reports. The officer tried to stop a vehicle on Middle Road at around 9 a.m. Saturday, but the driver did not comply, according to Lambton County OPP. Subsequently, the officer located the driver, and after an altercation, the driver reportedly assaulted the officer with an unspecified weapon before fleeing on foot, OPP stated. The officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized.
In a statement over the weekend, Julie Craddock, acting chief of Anishinabek Police Service, mentioned that the officer had been slashed in the face and seriously injured. The officer was discharged from the hospital later that day. Craddock expressed ongoing support for the officer and their family, wishing them a speedy recovery.
Following the incident, a temporary shelter-in-place directive was issued for the community, with the suspect reportedly barricading themselves inside a residence armed with a shotgun. OPP intervened and managed to apprehend the suspect without any issues, leading to the lifting of the shelter-in-place order.
The individual from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, accused of aggravated assault of a peace officer, fleeing from a peace officer, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, was remanded into custody after a bail hearing. The investigation is ongoing in collaboration with the Lambton OPP Crime Unit, with a publication ban in place to safeguard the investigation’s integrity and those involved.
In a statement, Craddock expressed deep gratitude for the professionalism and dedication of the Anishinabek Police Service members, highlighting the risks officers face daily while serving their communities. Chief Jeff Skye also acknowledged the commitment of the department’s members to safeguarding community lives.