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Two officers from the Greater Sudbury Police Service face obstruction of justice charges linked to the carbon monoxide death of a 19-year-old man in Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Police laid the charges this week against Sergeant Jason Bonish and Constable Alex Balloway. A third individual also faces the same charge.
A Young Man’s Death in Lively
The case began on May 23, 2025, when Sudbury police responded to a home in Lively, Ontario. Officers found a man unresponsive at the scene. Roch Renaud was later pronounced dead. Authorities determined that carbon monoxide poisoning caused his death.
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More than a year later, on October 8, 2026, two individuals and a company faced charges of criminal negligence causing death. That investigation ran separately from the obstruction case now involving the two officers.
OPP Steps In to Investigate
The Greater Sudbury Police Service asked the OPP to take over the investigation in June 2025. The reason was a potential institutional conflict of interest within the service’s own probe. The OPP formally launched its investigation at that point.
As a result of that investigation, the OPP charged Bonish and Balloway with obstruction of justice this week. The Greater Sudbury Police Service confirmed both officers were off duty at the time of the alleged conduct. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Police Service Addresses Public Concerns
The Greater Sudbury Police Service issued a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. “The Greater Sudbury Police Service recognizes the concerns these allegations raise within our community and the importance of maintaining public trust and confidence,” the statement read.
The service also stressed that the charges relate to off-duty conduct. It added that this fact does not reduce the professionalism shown daily by its members. “We remain committed to the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and respect, both on- and off-duty,” the statement continued.
Meanwhile, the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact police.
