Laying charges in wake of prison riot expected to take time

A Thunder Bay Police spokesman says it’ll likely take some time before any charges are laid in connection with Monday’s riot at the Thunder Bay District Jail.

Chris Adams on Wednesday called it a complicated investigation, one that’s running parallel to another investigation being conducted by corrections staff.

“I wouldn’t really want to put a hard number on it,” Adams said. “I can tell you it’s going to take several days, if not weeks, to sort though, given the number of people involved and trying to work that out, both from our investigative side with our schedule and their schedule and the complexity that everything connects.”

Adams added police are dedicating two or three officers to the case at any given time, but that could change.

“It depends on how deep we need to go, in terms of crime-scene investigation. That could involve our forensic unit, of course a general investigation. We have a lot to review from the night as well,” Adams said.

Thunder Bay police are looking solely at the criminal aspect of the riot, which was finally resolved on Tuesday morning and resulted in one corrections officer and several prisoners being sent to hospital for treatment of injuries.

The corrections officer was taken hostage during the incident.

According to the union representing the jail guards, about 65 to 70 inmates took part in the riot, which also resulted in damage to the top floor of the prison, including cell doors and camera systems.

Adams said it will all factor into the laying of charges. 

“You have to look at the nature of the violence that occurred during the incident. It had several components to it. We had the hostage aspect that happened with the corrections officer. There were also injuries to a number of inmates, so that has to be looked into as well.”

Police aren’t sure how many people might face charges.

The timing of the criminal investigation will also depend on the internal investigation and ensuring corrections officials have the continuity they need to conduct business as usual inside the jail.

“Our investigators are trying to work around their schedules, and like I said, it’s going to be a complicated process going through the incident. And bear in mind, this incident had several hours to it, so it is quite a bit to dissect.”