LOCAL BRIEFS

NRP officer cleared in St. Paddy’s Day incident

Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared a Niagara Regional Police officer who responded to an incident at the Pen Centre in March. The Special Investigations Unit, which investigates incidents of injury or death involving police, launched an investigation after a 16-year-old boy was arrested on March 17. Police were called to the mall on St. Patrick’s Day about two males causing a disturbance. Following the incident, the 16-year-old’s mother complained on Facebook that she was unable to get information about what happened to her son, who she says was injured by police. The mother said a mall security video showed her son being put in a choke hold and handcuffed. The mall manager declined to show the video to March, citing privacy concerns. At the time, police said the boy may have “suffered injuries during an interaction with a police officer. The teenager’s name could be not released under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The officer involved has not been named by the NRP. The SIU issued a one-paragraph news release Thursday saying there were “no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges”

Police raid cannabis club — again

in Niagara Regional Police have laid more charges in connection with its investigation of the Niagara Cannabis Club in St. Catharines. Police searched the Hartzel Road business in May and seized marijuana and marijuana infused products, also known as “edibles.” Police also raided residences on Pelham Road, Turner Crescent and Leaside Drive and laid drug possession charges against Timothy Robitaille and Kelly Kirby. In a Thursday news release, police say they launched a second investigation into the club in July. On Tuesday police again searched the club and same residences “seizing thousands of dollars worth of marijuana and marijuana-related projects along with currency believed to be derived from the sale of these items,” says a police press release. Ernest Kirby, 68, and Amanda Keeping, 37, are charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000. They were both released from custody pending a court date. Kelly Kirby, 50, and Timothy Robitaille, 52, face the same charges along with breach of an undertaking.