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A London, Ontario police officer faces a criminal charge after allegedly using pepper spray on a woman following her arrest in April. Const. Brandon Mihalides, 29, now faces one count of assault with a weapon as a result of the incident.
Incident Occurred in the Early Hours of April 29
According to London police, officers arrested a 33-year-old woman shortly before 2 a.m. on April 29. After the arrest, Const. Mihalides deployed pepper spray against the woman. The circumstances surrounding that decision later drew serious scrutiny from within the department.
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In Ontario, officers must follow mandatory use-of-force reporting requirements whenever they use pepper spray. A formal review process follows each reported incident. During that review, officials identified concerns about how force was applied in this case.
Investigation Referred to Major Crime Section
Because of those concerns, authorities referred the matter to the London Police Service’s Major Crime Section. Investigators examined whether the officer’s actions amounted to criminal conduct. That investigation ultimately led to the assault with a weapon charge against Mihalides.
The charge reflects the serious nature of the allegation. Pepper spray qualifies as a weapon under Canadian law. Therefore, its use in circumstances deemed unjustified can support a criminal assault charge.
Officer Removed from Operational Duties
Following the charge, London police reassigned Mihalides to non-operational administrative duties. This type of reassignment is standard practice when an officer faces criminal allegations. It keeps the officer away from frontline policing while the legal process moves forward.
London police confirmed the charge and the reassignment in an official news release. The department did not provide further details about the specific circumstances that prompted the use of pepper spray during the arrest.
The case highlights the importance of Ontario’s use-of-force review process. That process exists to ensure accountability when officers deploy force against members of the public. In this instance, the review directly triggered a criminal investigation and, ultimately, a formal charge against a serving officer.
The matter will now proceed through the courts. Mihalides has not entered a plea, and no findings of guilt have been made at this stage.
