Christian Gammon-Roy
Tribune
A video shared on social media, showing several youth in a late-night altercation with an unhoused man on King Street in downtown Sturgeon Falls, elicited a torrent of backlash online and prompted a police investigation.
The Nipissing West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police issued a statement on August 12 stating that they were made aware of the video “depicting a group of young males allegedly assaulting an unhoused individual in Sturgeon Falls.” Police identified the individuals involved and are continuing to actively investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, they advised.
The OPP also requested that anyone with additional information that could assist with the investigation contact them or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or https://ontariocrimestoppers.ca/. However, they asked the public not to share or repost the violent video, advising that they should preserve any video evidence and provide it directly to police instead. “Sharing this type of content can further traumatize victims and contribute to online harassment,” the release stated.