Batchewana First Nation Disappointed with OPP

November 6, 2013

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BATCHEWANA – Since the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) news release was issued, Charges laid in the death of Jesse Roach;

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has completed their investigation in the fatal pedestrian collision which occurred on Highway 17B approximately 500 metres west of Bell’s Point on October 13, 2013.

Terry Mosher, 73, of St. Joseph’s Island has been charged with:

· Obstruct a peace officer as per sec 129 (a) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and with

· Fail to report accident as per sec 199 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie on January 27, 2014 in relation to the Criminal Code charge and at the Provincial Offences Court on January 29, 2014 in relation to the Highway Traffic Act charge.

Jesse Roach’s body was found on October 13 2013 on the side of Highway 17B. He had been hit and killed by a car.

Since the announcement by the OPP, Batchewana First Nation’s leadership have been inundated with outraged community members.

In a statement from Batchewana First Nation, “In the official release on November 4, 2013 the OPP stated that Terry Mosher was charged with the following: Obstruct a peace officer as per sec 129 (a) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and with fail to report accident as per sec 199 (1) of the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, charges the First Nation feel are deeply inadequate”.

“The lack of charges are very disconcerting. We are trying to seek clarification to justify these nominal charges. I contacted the O.P.P this morning and was told that the investigators have done their due diligence,” commented Chief Sayers.

The First Nation is working to determine what if any other charges were contemplated, and how the investigators arrived at these disappointing charges.

Chief Sayers stated: “This outcome is unacceptable, I am struggling to understand why a number of obvious charges weren’t entertained such as: criminal negligence causing death or failure to stop at the scene of an accident. There is a history of legal disparity in this city when the victim is of First Nations descent, we are calling on the Crown Attorney for a complete review and revisit of the investigation to rectify this alarming situation.”