Today’s Northumberland has learned more information about a incident involving Cobourg Police and the SIU.
The incident happened in the municipal parking lot beside Trinity United Church on Division Street.
Hearing about the incident, Today’s Northumberland reached out to police on Wednesday, but a press release wasn’t issued until Thursday stating the SIU was now involved and giving very limited information due to the SIU policy.
All Cobourg Police have stated is, that on Tuesday around 6:00 p.m., police responded to a call for a fight in the Town of Cobourg.
“As a result of the police investigation, one individual was arrested and held for a show cause hearing.”
The suspect requested medical attention and was taken to hospital and was treated for a serious injury.
Given the SIU has invoked its mandate Cobourg Police are allowed to comment on very little to do with the investigation.
Today’s Northumberland has reached out to the SIU who stated the incident happened on Monday, not Tuesday as Cobourg Police stated and occurred in the area of Division and Chapel Streets, “for a report of a man who was threatening a woman and children in a vehicle.”
SIU state when the man was arrested and placed in a cell when he complained of a injury and was taken to hospital. SIU updated Today’s Northumberland on Friday, January 19 that the suspect was treated for his injury and released from hospital.
Today’s Northumberland has reached out to the SIU to ask specifically about the charges the suspect is facing given he was held for a bail hearing.
A representative from the SIU said in a e-mail, that police services can release charges.
“Other services do it routinely,” stated the spokesperson.
Cobourg Police did release the charges stating the 22-year-old suspect is charged with:
· three counts of assault
· four counts of uttering threats
· causing a disturbance
· being intoxicated in a public place
No name was given and the accused has been remanded in custody.
Christine Rabey who is Artistic Director for La Jeunesse Choirs told Today’s Northumberland they were practicing that evening at the church.
An e-mail was sent to families that sheds light on what took place.
Rabey said she wasn’t there during the incident, but said she was “very upset” that one of the choir members families, “was harassed in the parking lot.”
Rabey gives credit to the church security person who intervened and was assaulted while police were responding.
“I completely understand that this was a frightening experience for the people involved, but I am also very grateful that we have private security staff through the church, something I have never had the comfort of in another rehearsal facility, and that police were able to arrive promptly, given that this could have happened anywhere in the area.”
Rabey reminded choir families the importance of walking children from the car to the door for rehearsals and also to come in and pick them up.
“Beyond that, I invite you to petition the Town of Cobourg to install more security measures in their public lots, for example a lit police call pole, and to echo our requests for more police patrol presence in the area.”
“Know that we will continue to do everything we can to keep everyone safe and comfortable at choir!”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
