Teens keep Nishnawbe Aski Police busy

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service crest on a brick wall. (File Photo/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Teenagers in the remote northern Ontario First Nation community of Fort Hope are keeping the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) busy with six arrested in two days in two separate incidents.

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On July 6, NAPS members received a report of an assault.

Through their investigation police learned that the victim was approached by a group of individuals earlier in the evening.

“During this confrontation, a male suspect produced a knife and demanded the victim’s personal belongings,” said police in a news release.

“The victim was assaulted and personal items were stolen.”

According to police, the victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers identified two male suspects from the confrontation.

“On July 8, officers located and arrested one of the two suspects during an unrelated call for service,” NAPS said.

“A second suspect was located and arrested on July 9.”

As a result of the investigation, the local 14-year-old and 17-year-old male suspects were both charged with assault with a weapon, robbery with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The 17-year-old faces one additional charge for possession of property obtained by crime.

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation Police Service detachment is seen in Fort Severn, Ontario's most northerly community, on Friday, April 27, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Colin Perkel)

In the early morning hours of July 8, NAPS officers working out of the Fort Hope detachment learned of an assault that had occurred in the area of Albany River Crescent.

“An investigation found two victims – an adult and youth – had been approached by a group

of youth suspects,” said police.

“A physical confrontation ensued, at which point the suspects produced knives and attempted to stab the two victims.”

Police said neither victim reported an injury as a result of the incident.

“Three suspects were identified, located, and arrested that same morning,” NAPS said.

Officers located and arrested a fourth subject the next day, according to the news release.

As a result of the incident and subsequent investigation, four male youths – ages 13, 14, 15 and 17 – have each been charged with two counts of assault, two counts of assault with a weapon and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. The 13-year-old and the 15-year-old each face one additional charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

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The names of the accused are withheld in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, said police.

None of the accusations has been proven in court.