Windsor police officer acted in ‘self-defence’ during bar fight, Crown calls it a ‘non-existent threat’
Ontario Judge to Decide Fate of Windsor Police Officer Facing Assault Charges
Warning: This story contains graphic images.
An Ontario judge is currently deliberating whether a Windsor police officer, Sgt. Deler Bal, acted in self-defence when he allegedly struck a man in a bar bathroom in Ottawa or if his actions warrant conviction. Bal, 51, is facing three assault charges, including one count of aggravated assault.
The incident in question took place on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023, when Bal, who was off duty at the time, got into a physical altercation with Donald Conner in the men’s bathroom of Prohibition Public House. The altercation began when Bal mistakenly tried to enter an unlocked stall occupied by Conner.
Bal claimed that he apologized and proceeded to use a urinal while on the phone with an RCMP friend. However, things took a turn when Conner allegedly confronted Bal in an unfriendly manner, leading to a heated exchange between the two men.
According to Bal’s testimony, Conner repeatedly told him to look at a broken lock on the stall door and became increasingly agitated. Feeling threatened by Conner’s behavior, Bal asked him to leave the washroom. When Conner stepped closer to him, Bal pushed him away with two hands, initiating the first physical contact between the two.
Conner, on the other hand, denied engaging in any conversation with Bal after exiting the stall and argued that Bal’s perception of a threat was non-existent. The Crown prosecutor, Hart Shouldice, noted that Bal, who has extensive police training in de-escalation and use of force, could have handled the situation differently.
During the altercation, Bal claimed that Conner grabbed onto his sweater, prompting him to punch Conner twice in the head to create distance and escape the dangerous situation. However, the confrontation escalated further, with Conner allegedly slamming Bal against a wall and choking him.
Surveillance video presented in court captured the fight spilling out into the hallway before it ended. Conner sustained a fractured sinus wall and concussion as a result of the altercation.
As the trial concluded, both the prosecution and the defence made their closing arguments, with the decision now resting in the hands of Justice Juliana Martel. The judge is expected to deliver a verdict on Feb. 20, determining whether Bal’s actions were justified as self-defence or if they constitute assault.
