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
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.