Trials set for Thunder Bay police officer charged with assault, breach of trust

A suspended officer with the Thunder Bay Police Serviceis scheduled to go to trial for two counts of assault and one count of breach of trust in three separate trials set for 2025.

Staff Sgt. Michael Diminiwas scheduled for three different trialsin February2025, April/May2025and May/June 2025 after a brief hearing at the Thunder Bay, Ont. courthouse on Thursday morning.Each of thematters will be heard bydifferent out-of-town judges.

Dimini was not present at the courthouse but his lawyers appeared on his behalf via video link.

He will go to trial for the following charges:

• 2 charges of assault related to alleged 2 different incidents in August 2014 and October 2016.
• 1 charge of breach of trust in connection with his duties as a police officer inNovember 2020.

He was originally charged with the three offences above in December 2023 following an OPP investigation, plus oneobstruction of justice charge for attempting to pervert justice in a judicial proceeding by making a false statement.

None of the charges against Dimini have yetbeen tested or proven in court and he has pleaded not guilty.

Assault and breach of trust are both hybrid offences, which means the Crown can decide whether to proceed by eithersummary conviction or indictment.

The Crown has elected to proceed by indictment. Indictable offences aremore serious and have greater penalties. Both offences for whichDimini is facingcharges have a maximum penalty of up to five years in prisonwhen prosecuted by indictment, according to the Criminal Code.

Dimini is currently suspended with pay. He wasreleased from custody on the conditions he not possess any weapons or firearms and refrain from contacting 85 different people.

He is one of three people with ties to the Thunder Bay Police Service currently facing criminal charges stemming from an OPP investigation that began in 2021. In April,former police chief Sylvie Hauthandex-Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbournewere charged with multiple obstruction and breach of trust offences.

Both Hauth and Walbourne are scheduled to be back in court this June.