The northwestern Ontario community is abuzz with news that A former staff sergeant with the Lakehead Officers Service (TBPS) is seeking to appeal his obstruction and breach of trust convictions, and his three-year prison sentence.
Michael Dimini, 46, was found guilty in Thunder Bay's Ontario Court of Justice in February for charges stemming from entering an apartment in 2020 as authorities were making arrests. On Wednesday morning, Justice Michael Block gave himthree years in prisonon the breach of trust charge and two years concurrent for obstruction. Michelle O'Doherty was the defence counsel for Dimini, who previously resigned from the officers force.
O'Doherty confirmed with CBC News in an email that the former officer has been granted bail. "Once someone is sentenced [to prison], the typical step is for that person to seek bail pending the appeal. That's done through the Court of Appeal, given that these were indictable offences. "At this stage, he's sought bail pending appeal and it has been granted." It's not clear when Dimini resigned, but when contacted by CBC, the law enforcement service confirmed it could only give his employment status, adding "he is no longer an employee." Dimini was originallycharged by Ontario Provincial Authorities (OPP) in December 2023with two counts of assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice following a nearly two-year probe.
Dimini's trial focused heavily onwhether he had reasonable grounds to enter a Frederica Street apartmentin November 2020.
One of the assault charges wasdismissedand he was acquitted of the other. CBC News obtained documents from the Court of Appeal that were submitted Thursday and filed on Friday. An order allowing the appeal and acquitting the appellant or, in the alternative, ordering a new trial. The Ontario Court of Appeal is the province's highest level of court, and hears appeals from the Superior Court of Justice and the Ontario Court of Justice. (Patrick Morrell/CBC) Howard L. Krongold, a partner with AGP LLP in Ottawa, is representing Dimini as appeal counsel. Dimini's trial focused heavily onwhether he had reasonable grounds to enter a Frederica Street apartmentin November 2020. He showed up unannounced at the scene, while four other officers were outside, to retrieve a stolen TV and tools that belonged to his then father-in-law. He entered the building without a warrant, the court heard. The court also heard Dimini went into the TBPS computer system and changed another officer's report about what happened. According to Dimini's defence, grounds for the appeal are that the trial judge failed to: Apply the correct legal principles in evaluating whether there were reasonable and probable grounds to arrest any of the occupants of the apartment. Whether officers had authority to enter the apartment in "fresh pursuit". Whether the search of the apartment was undertaken incident to a lawful arrest. Whether there were grounds to arrest the occupants of the apartment once the law enforcement were inside. "These errors tainted the trial judge's finding that the appellant's conduct was a 'marked departure' from the standards of his profession and his finding that the appellant's purposes were for other than the public good," the documents argue. During the sentencing hearing, both the Crown and defence counsel agreed that a prison term of 15 to 18 months seemed appropriate. The Crown sought imprisonment while the defence advocated for Dimini to serve his time in the region. "The sentence imposed is manifestly excessive and unfit," Dimini's appeal documents say. At the sentence hearing, Block advised officers are sworn to uphold the law and Dimini's actions do not inspire confidence among the public in those meant to serve and protect them. "Here we have unlawful acts, serious unlawful acts, committed by a senior officer who propagated multiple falsehoods to escape consequences." It is unclear when the appeal may be heard in court..
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📍 Source: Web Search · By: News Staff · 🗓️ August 03, 2026 · 🏠 ThunderBay.Online
