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Spousal abuse suspect spits at North Bay police officers claiming he is COVID positive

 At one point, the accused restrained the victim and held a lighter in front of her threatening to burn her
north bay police cruiser 2 cd
File photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

CALLANDER — Police have charged a Commanda man after they tried to arrest him and he turned on them, spitting and yelling he is COVID positive.

They were called July 12 after the female victim, in a co-habitational relationship with her attacker, was assaulted.

Police say the couple were at the Callander home when an argument turned violent.  At one point, the man restrained the victim and held a lighter in front of her threatening to burn her.

When police arrived the man had left the scene but investigation revealed that previous assaults on the victim had taken place.

Police spotted the man later that evening walking in North Bay.

"When arrested the accused was uncooperative and began spitting towards officers stating he was COVID positive," said police spokesman John Schultz. "Several comments were made towards police that were threatening in nature resulting in the additional criminal charge."

A 38-year-old man from Commanda is charged with:

  • Three counts of assault with a weapon
  • Uttering a threat.

In order to protect the identity of the victim, the North Bay Police are not releasing the name of the accused.

He remains in custody pending a bail hearing at the North Bay Courthouse.

Schultz says the intentional act of spitting on another person has been deemed by the courts in Canada as an act or gesture that meets the legal threshold of an assault, and would in and of itself constitute a criminal act.


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Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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