A 22-year-old man is facing nearly 20 charges after a woman on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia was allegedly threatened, assaulted, and held against her will.
According to Sarnia police, a woman at a home on Tashmoo Avenue south of Christopher Drive had gotten into a heated argument with the father of her infant child around 7:20 p.m. on Friday. As the dispute escalated the woman was physically assaulted, suffering minor injuries. She was then forcibly confined and threatened with further violence, police said.
The woman managed to escape the home and called police. Officers were told the man had a weapon and that the infant was still inside the home. This led members of the police emergency response team to conduct an "exigent emergency operation" to get the child out.
The child was found inside the home and was unharmed, police said.
Three men were arrested, although two were later released from police custody unconditionally.
A 22-year-old Sarnia – Aamjiwnaang First Nation man is charged with three counts of assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon, three counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, forcible confinement, possession of a controlled substance, and seven counts of failure to comply with a judicial release order.
The man's name is not being released in order to protect the identity of the victim and the child, police said.
Anyone who is or has suffered from domestic violence is encouraged to contact the following organizations for assistance:
Assaulted Women’s Help Line at Toll Free: 1-866-863-0511
Ontario Help Line at 2-1-1
Provincial resources at www.ontario.ca/page/get-help-if-you-are-experiencing-violence
Sarnia Police Service (or the police service in your jurisdiction) at 519-344-8861 or 9-1-1 for emergencies
The Sarnia Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre Sarnia-Lambton at 519-337-3154
Bluewater Health Domestic Violence Unit at 519-464-4400
Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton at 519-344-8861
Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton Inc. at 519-336-5200
