Thunder Bay’s city police have made an arrest in connection with a homicide investigation in Thunder Bay.
On October 30, officers received a call for assistance around 3:00 p.m.
When they arrived on scene, they located a deceased 67-year-old man in a home on College Street.
The victim is Maurice Kenneth Bruins from Thunder Bay.
Police believe he was the victim of an interrupted break-and-enter, and that this was not a targeted incident.
Police also believe the accused left the residence in the victim’s vehicle and travelled to a community outside of the city where they committed a separate offence.
As a result of the investigation, a suspect was identified.
On Tuesday, the individual with no home address was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and break and enter.
The accused remains in custody with a future court date.
The Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) was joined by leaders from Marten Falls First Nation, as well as members of the late Corey Belesky’s family, on Monday to make a renewed appeal to the public for information surrounding the death.
Saturday marked three years since Belesky’s passing, and the family is still looking for answers.
On November 1, 2022, Belesky was found unresponsive just after 1:00 a.m. at a residence in Thunder Bay.
“Corey was a loving son, brother, uncle, stepdad and partner. He loved his family and loved animals,” explained his mother, Colleen Belesky.
“On November 1st, 2022, Corey, my son, my baby, was murdered. That day I also died. My life ended.”
“We, Corey’s family, are asking anyone with any information to please come forward. We, Corey’s family, are requesting that the Thunder Bay Police Services Board approve an award to help with Corey’s murder investigation. And we, Corey’s family, are requesting the Thunder Bay Police Service to put more officers without prejudices and more resources into my baby’s investigation.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Thunder Bay Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Branch at 807-684-1204.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online by clicking here.
Police say a vehicle connected to the investigation of a 67‑year‑old man’s death on College Street has been located.
The Thunder Bay Police Service confirmed on Saturday that the 2016 grey Honda CR-V with Ontario licence plate CTDY 700 has been found.
The investigation follows the death of a 67-year-old man, who was discovered at a home in the 100 block of College Street after officers responded to a call around 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Police have said they believe the man may have been killed during an interrupted break-and-enter, and that the incident was not targeted.
A new team of four special constables will be tasked with patrolling and servicing District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) buildings.
DSSAB represents a cornerstone of Thunder Bay’s efforts to build and maintain affordable housing units.
However, problematic tenants are among the key challenges that come with constructing and maintaining housing for the city’s most vulnerable individuals.
Inspector Jason Rybak of the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) says the idea for a Housing Safety Unit was inspired by a similar program in Toronto, launched in 2022.
Toronto’s Community Safety unit has had the effect of reducing 9-1-1 calls in scenarios where a full emergency response may not be needed.
Rybak frames the idea as a way of “helping get people in the right streams of support, versus having to deal from an enforcement side.”
TBPS is presenting the Housing Safety Unit as a pilot program: the beginning of something which could take on a greater role if it is successful.
The new team is comprised of four newly trained police special constables coming from a variety of community-oriented backgrounds.
To begin with, the four special constables will be assigned to three of DSSAB’s most issue-prone buildings: Andras Court, McIvor Court, and Spence Court, together comprising about 500 housing units, or one-fifth of DSSAB’s total housing stock.
One of the new constables, Krystal Wiwcharyk, comes from a social work background. She believes that her experience in working with the disadvantaged will inform the way she handles her new role.
“I want to see some changes made, a positive shift,” she says. “We want to see less people, vulnerable people inside the justice system. If we can deter them in some form, even one person, we’ve made a change.”
Special Constable Krystal Wiwcharyk of the new Housing Safety Unit. (Sam Goldstein/October 28, 2025)
The Special Constables have been given a slightly condensed and modernized form of standard Ontario police cadet training. They will not have all the powers of police officers, but will be able to make arrests, take witness statements, and guard crime scenes.
“It really opens up a whole new toolbox for us as a police service by having these officers take a more community services approach,” Inspector Rybak explains.
DSSAB CEO Ken Ranta says that as a pilot program, success for the project will be measured in the reception of DSSAB tenants to the new constables, as well as in the new team’s ability to reduce pressure on Thunder Bay’s emergency services.
“We’re looking at calls to properties, and if we can have an impact on that, and the opportunity to free up patrolling officers to address other calls,” says Ranta.
A Thunder Bay resident is facing an attempted murder charge following an investigation into a serious assault that took place at the corner of Red River Road and Clarkson Avenue.
The incident took place on Saturday and left an 85-year-old man with serious injuries.
The victim, Hendrick Walinga remains in hospital.
“We’re releasing his name at this time as we’re having difficulty locating his family,” explained Acting Inspector Chris Carlucci. “Mr. Wallinga remains in hospital after ongoing extensive surgery. He is in stable but serious condition.”
“We can say at this time we believe this to be a random act of violence.”
The suspect left the scene before police arrived.
After drone and dog searches failed to yield more information, city police issued a public call for additional information.
This led to members of the public assisting in identifying the suspect.
The accused remains in custody with a future court date.
A teen is facing charges after an investigation into an online threat involving a potential school attack.
On October 6, officers started looking into possible online communications that may have involved a threat to the public in Thunder Bay, as well as another country.
The FBI, Interpol, and the RCMP assisted the Thunder Bay Police Service with the investigation.
It was determined that a teen in Thunder Bay was communicating with another person online who is believed to be in another country.
The pair were allegedly conspiring and counselling each other regarding a potential attack.
City police believe the attempts would have been carried out in the near future.
Officers and school resource officers searched two locations in Thunder Bay on Tuesday.
As a result, a 13-year-old is facing the following charges:
Counselling to Commit an Offence that is Not Committed
Conspiracy to Commit Murder
The accused remains in custody with a future court date.
“This is a reminder that youth can be manipulated online by predators, extremists or other criminals to exploit vulnerabilities like isolation, curiosity, leading to offences from minor crimes to violence,” explained Acting Inspector Chris Carlucci.
“An example being school shootings or hate crimes in Ontario, police, cyber crime units like ours monitor these under the Criminal Code and the Youth Criminal Justice Act.”
“Grooming often involves gaining trust, normalizing crime and escalating involvement, usually via private chats or online groups. Please help to protect our children by using tools such as Net Nanny to monitor activity. Let’s talk to our youth about online risks and report suspicious behaviours.”
The Thunder Bay Police Service is investigating a homicide on Edward Street North.
City police sent out a media release announcing the investigation just before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening.
They are asking anyone in the area who has surveillance video or information that could assist the investigation to contact city police at 807-684-1200.
You can also supply tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477, or online by clicking here.
