KAWARTHA LAKES-Three City of Kawartha Lakes OPP officers charged in relation to a police-involved shooting near Lindsay in 2020 have had all charges withdrawn this morning in an Oshawa courtroom.
On November 26, 202 police were called to the Municipality of Trent Lakes related to a domestic dispute involving a firearm.
Police from the City of Kawartha Lakes (CKL) Detachment of the OPP attempted to stop the vehicle involved in the dispute according to police.
There was a motor vehicle collision between the vehicle and an OPP cruiser at a location on Pigeon Lake Road in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
An altercation occurred between the male driver and officers. The male was apprehended, with the assistance of members of the Kawartha Lakes Police Service. The male was transported to a Toronto area trauma centre with serious injuries. His 18-month-old baby was in the vehicle at the time.
Read more here: https://www.kawartha411.ca/2020/11/26/a-young-boy-has-died-in-an-incident-involving-police-near-lindsay/
Constables Grayson Cappus, Kenneth Pengelly and Nathan Vanderheyden were charged with manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm with intent and aggravated assault in the shooting death of 18 month old Jameson Shapiro on November 26, 2020.
The boys’ 33-year-old father, William Shapiro later died in hospital.
“The circumstances of this incident involving the death of an innocent child are tragic for all involved. We offer our sympathies to the child’s family. It is our duty to serve and protect and we take that duty very seriously. Unfortunately, as police officers protect public safety in highly volatile and fast-moving dangerous situations, unexpected outcomes may result.” said OPP Association President John Cerasuolo in a statement after the charges were withdrawn. “It is a correct and just decision made today that the charges against our members have been withdrawn. We have stated from the outset that our members acted courageously and professionally during an extremely dangerous situation. We were confident that as the case proceeded through justice system that the evidence would vindicate the officers. It is important for the public to understand that if police are charged with an offence, they have the presumption of innocence, and in this case it has been determined that on the totality of the evidence there was no reasonable prospect of conviction. Our officers were doing their job according to their training.”
One of the officers sustained very serious life-altering injuries during the response to that tragic incident.
“We encourage anyone impacted by this situation to reach out and lean on those closest to them as well as seek professional mental health assistance. We also encourage you to reach in to those you know are impacted by this tragedy.” continued Cerasuolo.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge offers mental health supports to residents of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, Peterborough and County, and Northumberland. To learn more about the programs and services they offer, visit cmhahkpr.ca or call 705-328-2704.
The Ontario Provincial Police Association’s (OPPA) Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is available to our members and their families by calling 24/7: 1-866-794-9117 or by visiting encompascare.ca.