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Ontario police officers did not draw firearms before they were fatally shot: watchdog

Published

2 years ago

5 minute read

By Holly McKenzie-Sutter

Two police officers who died responding to a call at an Innisfil, Ont., home did not draw their firearms before they were shot, Ontario’s police watchdog said Thursday, as grieving friends and colleagues remembered the two men as kind and dedicated.

The Special Investigations Unit had said a day earlier that there was an “exchange of gunfire” Tuesday night between the two officers and a 23-year-old man, who also died in the shooting.

New details emerged from the agency on Thursday, including that a third officer had been at the home.

“Based on preliminary information, the two officers did not draw their firearms when they were fatally shot,” Special Investigations Unit spokeswoman Kristy Denette said in a written statement.

“A third officer who was also at the house exchanged gunfire with the man.”

The South Simcoe Police Service has identified the officers who died as Const. Devon Northrup, 33, and Const. Morgan Russell, 54. The third officer, who hasn’t been named, was not injured, Denette said.

The SIU, which is still investigating, said the three officers were responding to a call from a family member about a disturbance at a home.

The 23-year-old man, who lived at the home, had a gun that the SIU said was a SKS semi-automatic rifle. An autopsy on the man is set for Friday, the SIU said.

The SIU did not name the young man but a source close to the investigation identified him as Chris Doncaster.

Court records show that a Chris Doncaster was charged with mischief under $5,000 in October 2018 and two failures to appear in court. All three charges were withdrawn in June of the following year.

The Department of National Defence confirmed Thursday that a man named Christopher Joseph Doncaster was a Canadian Armed Forces member from May to December 2020.

“He was a private with no deployment history and who did not complete basic training,” the department said.

An Instagram account that uses the name Chris Doncaster featured a photo posted over a year ago that appeared to depict a young man posing on a South Simcoe Police Service jet ski.

Residents who live in the area have expressed shock at what happened. Some said an elderly couple who had an adult grandson lived in the house where the shooting took place.

South Simcoe police said words cannot describe the grief the force is experiencing.

Northrup, a six-year member of the South Simcoe Police Service, worked with the community mobilization and engagement unit, and also served as a member of the mental health crisis outreach team and the emergency response unit. He is survived by his partner and parents, police said.

In 2020, Northrup was given an Excellence in Emergency award by the force for his role in helping a person in crisis.

“The officers can take comfort in knowing they saved this man’s life that day,” an annual report by the police force read.

Russell, a father of two, was a 33-year veteran of the force. He was a trained crisis negotiator and was assigned to uniform patrol, the police service said.

Condolences and memories of the two officers continued to pour in on Thursday.

Flowers were seen placed outside South Simcoe Police’s Innisfil detachment, and a community vigil drew mourners together Wednesday night as the officers were remembered.

“From the flowers and food being dropped off at our stations, to last night’s packed candlelight vigil, to Innisfil Beach Park lit up in blue, to the book of condolence in Bradford, for all the posts and notes of condolence – thank you,” South Simcoe Police tweeted on Thursday afternoon.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving expressed sadness over Northrup’s passing, saying he was “played a pivotal role” at the organization’s York Region Chapter, where he worked as a former treasurer and director at large.

“Devon was a gentle giant with a smile that would light up a room; he will be truly missed,” MADD York Region said in a Facebook post.

Georgian College said in a statement that the school community was “saddened” about the loss of Russell, who graduated from the Law and Security program in 1988.

College president Kevin Weaver shared condolences for Northrup and said flags would be lowered at Barrie and Orillia campuses in their memory.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2022.

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Crime

Slovakian prime minister who opposed WHO Pandemic Treaty shot in assassination attempt

Published on May 15, 2024

By

From LifeSiteNews

By Emily Mangiaracina

Slovakia recently announced that it would not support the WHO’s pending Pandemic Agreement, which Robert Fico has described as ‘nonsense’ that ‘could only be invented by greedy pharmaceutical companies.’

Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico, an outspoken opponent of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) pandemic accord, is “fighting for his life” after he was shot five times in an assassination attempt on Wednesday.

Fico is undergoing surgery while the gunman, who has not yet been publicly identified, is in custody, according to government officials. According to Slovakia Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák, Fico’s medical state is “extraordinarily serious,” and his surgery has been ongoing for at least 3 1/2 hours.

The assassination attempt, which occurred as he was leaving a government meeting, comes only a few days after Slovakia announced that it would not support the WHO’s pending Pandemic Agreement, including the new International Health Regulations (IHR) in the proposal. Slovakia’s health minister declared the country would not sign any agreements weakening the nation’s sovereignty, according to Radio Slovakia International. 

In November, Fico referred to the Pandemic Agreement as “nonsense” that “could only be invented by greedy pharmaceutical companies, which began to perceive resistance from some governments against mandatory vaccination,” Euractiv reported.

The WHO’s Pandemic Agreement, which has a May 2024 signing deadline, has been widely denounced as a threat to the national sovereignty of WHO member nations by giving the WHO greater power over the countries in the case of a declared public health emergency. All 49 Republican U.S. Senators have signed a letter urging the Biden administration to reject the WHO agreements, “or at least submit any agreement to the Senate as a treaty.”

During an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s podcast in January, liberal intellectual Bret Weinstein argued that the WHO is gearing up for a “re-run” of COVID-19 in order to set up a “totalitarian planet.” He noted that the agreement is being modified so the WHO will have even more power to crack down on voices that dissent from Big Pharma’s narrative.

Fico won a third term in October after running a campaign critical of Western support for Ukraine, and his government has already halted arms deliveries to the war-torn country, according to the Associated Press. He previously served as prime minister of Slovakia from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018, holding a record as the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history.

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Alberta

30 million contraband cigarettes valued at $25 million dollars seized in Alberta

Published on May 15, 2024

By

New release from Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)

Record setting contraband tobacco seizures result from AGLC investigations

Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) recently concluded several investigations which netted two of the largest contraband tobacco seizures in Alberta history.  The combined total of the contraband tobacco seized was 154,800 cartons of contraband cigarettes (30.7 million individual cigarettes).  These seizures are a result of the work conducted by AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit with the assistance of provincial law enforcement agencies.

  • In a January 2024 investigation, approximately 43,500 cartons (8.7 million individual cigarettes) were seized.  This equates to $7 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $2.4 million.  This included the seizure of 15,000 grams of contraband shisha.
  • In April of 2024, 60 wrapped pallets were seized from a warehouse setting netting a total of 111,300 cartons of contraband cigarettes (22 million individual cigarettes) which equates to over $18 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $6.6 million.
  • Criminal Charges are pending in both cases.

“These are significant contraband tobacco investigations involving individuals that are part of organized networks whose proceeds defraud Albertans millions of dollars in tax revenue. AGLC will continue to work with our partners to investigate and disrupt the individuals and organizations involved in these illegal activities as part our commitment to a strong contraband tobacco enforcement program in Alberta.”

  • Gary Peck, Vice President, Regulatory Services, AGLC

“Contraband tobacco hurts law abiding businesses that follow the rules, and it costs Albertans millions each year from lost tax revenue. Our government is committed to keeping illegal tobacco off the streets and ensuring that the sale of tobacco products comply with the law.”

  • Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction

Over the last nine months, AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement unit has seized an estimated 35 million contraband cigarettes and 115,000 grams of contraband shisha from across the province. The total potential lost tax revenue is estimated to be more than $10.1 million.

Contraband tobacco:

  • is any tobacco product that does not comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes;
  • comes from four main sources: illegal manufacturers, counterfeits, tax-exempt diversions and resale of stolen legal tobacco; and
  • can be recognized by the absence of a red (Alberta) or peach/light tan (Canada) stamp bearing the “DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTÉ” on packages of cigarettes and cigars or pouches of tobacco.

In addition to lost revenues that may otherwise benefit Albertans, illegally manufactured products also pose public health and safety risks as they lack regulatory controls and inspections oversight.

Albertans who suspect illegal tobacco production, packaging and/or trafficking are encouraged to contact AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit at 1-800-577-2522 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Under a Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, AGLC enforces the Tobacco Tax Act and conducts criminal  investigations  related to the possession, distribution and trafficking of contraband tobacco products. In 2022-23, provincial revenue from tobacco taxes was approximately $522 million.

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