Thunder Bay police sergeant's obstruction trial starts with former officer as first witness

Michelle Allan · CBC News

· Posted: May 26, 2025 7:06 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) Staff Sgt. Michael Dimini pleaded not blameworthy Monday at his proceedings for charges of obstruction of justness and breach of trust.

Dimini was primitively charged successful December 2023 following a astir two-year Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation. He was originally besides charged with 2 counts of assault — 1 was dismissed and Dimini was acquitted of the other. 

The Crown said the breach of spot complaint is based connected a mentation that Dimini went into an flat connected November 24, 2020, without authorization to retrieve thing stolen from his past father-in-law, and to arrest someone wrong with an outstanding warrant.

Retired TBPS Constable Kelly Walsh took the basal Monday to picture his recollection of however a telephone that nighttime to retrieve a stolen TV from a Frederica Street apartment descended into "chaos" erstwhile Dimini showed up unannounced. 

Walsh said helium saw a woman, who helium would aboriginal find retired is Cassandra Stachiw, connected the stairs of the flat gathering carrying a TV. Walsh said successful tribunal determination was a warrant retired for the apprehension of Stachiw's partner, Derrick Turner. He added that Turner was known to beryllium linked to the cause trade. Walsh said helium and the different officers astatine the country spoke to the pistillate to negociate the instrumentality of the TV, but besides tried to fig retired if Turner was presently successful the apartment. 

Stachiw agreed to springiness them the TV, but didn't let them into her apartment, Walsh said. Without a warrant oregon consent of the occupant, Walsh said they weren't legally allowed to enter, truthful they prepared to leave.

Walsh testified that Dimini, who had a higher rank, showed up astatine that infinitesimal to the apartment, and got into an statement with Stachiw. According to 911 calls played successful the courtroom, the TV had been stolen from Dimini's past father-in-law.

"Chaos ensued," Walsh said. 

He testified that Dimini went into the flat without a warrant oregon lawful authorization successful bid to look for Turner. Out of interest for Dimini's safety, Walsh said helium and the 3 different officers followed the sergeant into the apartment. 

"We truly had nary power of the concern erstwhile we went successful there," Walsh said. 

Once inside, Walsh said they recovered Turner hiding successful a closet, different idiosyncratic sitting connected a couch, and a 3rd repeatedly flushing a toilet successful the bath successful what they believed was an effort to get escaped of amerciable drugs. They arrested Turner, Stachiw and 1 of the different occupants. Walsh said determination was yelling and that Turner resisted officers.  

Witness alleges Dimini's study was 'fabricated' 

The Crown said the complaint of obstruction of justness by making mendacious statements against Dimini is based connected the notes and study Dimini wrote to enactment Stachiw's prosecution.

Walsh said aft making the arrests, helium was acrophobic they would get successful occupation for entering the flat without a warrant. 

"When you judge you shouldn't beryllium successful there, and present you're wrestling with a guy, you're conscionable fearful you've committed a usurpation of somebody's rights," helium said. 

Walsh described speaking to Dimini extracurricular the flat gathering aft officers enactment the suspects into a constabulary vehicle. 

"His words were, 'it mightiness beryllium a charter breach, but it's nary large deal,'" said Walsh to the court. Dimini visibly reacted to proceeding this wrong the courtroom, putting his manus to his forehead and audibly swearing. 

Walsh said his relationship of events differs from Dimini's. "When I work his report, it was fabricated," helium said.

The study written by Dimini astir the apprehension that nighttime was attached to the agreed connection of facts submitted to the court. In it, Dimini said constabulary saw Turner carrying a TV connected the gathering stairs and tally into the apartment. The study besides said that erstwhile officers walked up to the apartment, Stachiw answered the doorway and was uncooperative.  

"Police person the authorization to participate her residence, arsenic it was successful caller pursuit of Derek Turner," said Dimini successful the report. 

Security footage played successful tribunal showed a pistillate holding a TV successful the flat stairwell. Walsh testified that the pistillate was Stachiw. She is seen answering the beforehand doorway of the building, and Walsh enters with the officers. Turner is not seen until aboriginal successful the video, erstwhile helium is brought retired by constabulary successful handcuffs. 

Cassandra Stachiw is scheduled as the adjacent witness. Derrick Turner is presently serving a beingness condemnation for his engagement successful an October 2021 execution astatine different residence connected Frederica street, according to tribunal documents.