Police investigating after Sudbury city councillor accuses colleague of making threats
A dispute between two city councillors in Sudbury has escalated to the point that police have been called in to investigate allegations of threats.
Sudbury police said Wednesday they have turned the investigation over to the North Bay Police service.
Matters between Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini and Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc came to a head at Tuesday's city council meeting. Leduc planned to table a motion to have Vagnini removed from the police services board.
The move came after Vagnini made a number of allegations involving criminality and other extreme events at the homeless encampment at Memorial Park.
Police and city staff refuted the allegations, prompting Leduc's motion to have Vagnini removed from the police services board.
In a previous interview, Leduc had said he was concerned about misinformation that was being spread regarding dead people being found in the homeless encampment.
While the motion didn't make it to a vote -- the meeting ended abruptly after council voted against going past the allotted three hours – an altercation reportedly happened after the meeting that led to the police complaint.
The Greater Sudbury Police Services has since issued a statement:
"We received a threats complaint from a city councillor in relation to a Greater Sudbury Police Services Board member. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation and in order to ensure objectivity, we have engaged the North Bay Police Service to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations."
CTV News also reached out to Mayor Brian Bigger's office for comment. His office said he is reserving the opportunity to comment until he's had a chance to speak with authorities.
Leduc said he's now considering pulling his motion.
"I have to worry about my personal safety now, that of my parents and my family," he said.
He declined any further comment until police have had a chance to do their work, adding the issue is now in the hands of council. He also asked for privacy for himself and his family as the process unfolds.
CTV News has been unable to reach Vagnini for comment.
In the meeting, however, he did make mention of potential legal action.
"I'm getting hung out to dry, like a witch hunt right now," he said while arguing with the mayor over whether he was at risk of having a conflict of interest in regards to Leduc's motion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.