Case stemmed from a 2020 West Frederica “keep the peace” call, a warrantless apartment entry, and edits to an officer’s report
THUNDER BAY — Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officer Michael Dimini has been convicted of breach of trust and obstruction of justice in connection with a Nov. 24, 2020 incident involving an entry into an apartment on West Frederica Street and subsequent changes to police documentation.
The verdict follows a judge-alone trial that centred on two core issues: whether the entry into the apartment was lawful, and whether Dimini later altered another officer’s report in a way that interfered with the administration of justice.
What happened on West Frederica Street
Court heard that four officers were dispatched to a West Frederica Street building to help keep the peace after Dimini’s then father-in-law arranged to buy back a television that had been reported stolen from his property.
The TV had been posted for sale online by a user identified as Derek Turner, who was wanted on outstanding warrants at the time, according to trial coverage.
The encounter escalated into a major legal question once Turner was located: the prosecution case focused on whether Dimini entered the apartment where Turner was found without lawful authority and then later tried to bolster the narrative around the entry through edits to police reporting.
“Lawful authority” and the sanctity of the home
A private residence is among the most protected spaces under Canadian law, and police generally require a warrant or clearly established legal grounds (such as exigent circumstances or valid consent) to enter.
During the proceedings, testimony from responding officers raised concerns about the basis for entry, with trial reporting noting at least one officer saying he believed the entry was illegal.
The report-editing allegations
The obstruction count was tied to allegations that Dimini edited another officer’s report after the incident.
Trial reporting described an audit trail showing Dimini accessed and edited the report days after the initial call—changes the Crown argued were significant because they could affect how the entry and arrest circumstances were understood later.
How the charges were laid: the broader OPP investigation into TBPS
Dimini was charged by the Ontario Provincial Police in December 2023, after a probe that began when Ontario’s Attorney General requested the OPP assess whether a criminal investigation was warranted into alleged misconduct involving TBPS members.
Ontario’s police oversight documentation has described the Dimini charges as including counts related to reports made in November 2020 following arrests at a Frederica Street apartment.
What comes next: sentencing and professional discipline
Sentencing information was not included in the publicly accessible material NetNewsLedger reviewed at time of writing.
Separately, TBPS continues to list Dimini in its Police Services Act hearings schedule, with allegations noted as discreditable conduct (x3) and hearing dates posted for March 21–23, 2026 (status: ongoing).
Why this matters in Thunder Bay
This case lands in a community still grappling with long-running questions about police accountability and public trust, particularly following years of external scrutiny of TBPS.
At its core, the Dimini verdict is about two pillars of democratic policing: the legal threshold for entering someone’s home, and the reliability of police records when actions are later reviewed by courts, oversight agencies, and the public.
This is a developing story… stay tuned.
