Three people face forcible confinement, extortion and assault charges after Superior East Ontario Provincial Police conducted a wellness check on a Wawa resident.
Police went to a Churchill Avenue residence in Wawa on July 18, and found the subject of the wellness check in distress.
Kelvin Henry and Benjamin Lewis are facing charges of forcible confinement, extortion, assault and uttering threats, while Deborah Komarniski is charged with forcible confinement, extortion and obstruction a peace officer.
The full OPP press release is included below.
On July 18, 2022, at approximately 8:12 p.m., members of the Superior East Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a well-being check on an individual at a residence on Churchill Avenue in Wawa. The individual was located by police and found to be in distress. Through investigation, three individuals were arrested and charged.
Kelvin Henry, 41 years-of-age, of Dubreuilville has been charged with:
- Forcible confinement, contrary to section 279(2) of the Criminal Code (CC),
- Extortion, contrary to section 346(1.1)(b) of the CC,
- Assault, contrary to section 266 of the CC, and
- Uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm, contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the CC.
Benjamin Lewis, 39 years-of-age, of Wawa has been charged with:
- Forcible confinement, contrary to section 279(2) of the Criminal Code (CC),
- Extortion, contrary to section 346(1.1)(b) of the CC,
- Assault, contrary to section 266 of the CC, and
- Uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm, contrary to section 264.1(1)(a) of the CC.
Deborah Komarniski, 60 years-of-age, of Wawa has been charged with:
- Forcible confinement, contrary to section 279(2) of the Criminal Code (CC),
- Extortion, contrary to section 346(1.1)(b) of the CC, and
- Obstruct Peace Officer, contrary to section 129(a) of the CC.
Henry and Lewis were remanded into custody pending bail hearings. Komarniski was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Sept. 12, 2022 in Wawa.