A routine call for a welfare concern turned violent in North Bay this week, resulting in police deploying a conducted energy weapon, commonly known as a taser, and arresting a 23-year-old man.
Wellness Check Escalates into Confrontation
On the afternoon of Friday, January 16, 2026, officers from the North Bay Police Service were dispatched to conduct a wellness check in the area of Station Road and Seymour Street. The call was to ensure the safety and well-being of an individual. However, the situation quickly deteriorated when the individual, a 23-year-old man, became confrontational with the attending officers.
Resistance Leads to Use of Force and Charges
According to police, the man actively resisted arrest. During the struggle, he is alleged to have assaulted the officers on the scene. In response to the physical attack and to gain control of the volatile situation, one of the officers deployed a taser. The use of the conducted energy weapon was effective, and the man was subsequently taken into custody without further incident.
The 23-year-old now faces charges related to the assault on police officers and resisting arrest. The incident underscores the unpredictable nature of wellness checks, where officers often encounter individuals in crisis, sometimes leading to dangerous confrontations.
Context and Police Protocol
Wellness checks are a common duty for police services across Canada, including in Northern Ontario communities like North Bay. They are initiated when there is concern for a person's mental or physical health, often at the request of family, friends, or neighbors. While many such calls are resolved peacefully, officers must be prepared for scenarios where individuals may be agitated, confused, or violent.
The use of a taser in this instance falls under the North Bay Police Service's use-of-force continuum, which allows for such tools when an officer is faced with assaultive behavior to subdue a subject and prevent further injury. An internal review of the incident is standard procedure whenever a conducted energy weapon is discharged.
No names have been released, and the accused is expected to appear in court at a later date to answer to the charges.
