'Shocked and appalled': Off-duty Halton officers assaulted in Ottawa

Halton Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner is speaking out after two of his officers were assaulted while off duty in the nation’s capital over the weekend.

According to Ottawa Police, the incident took place around 1:45 a.m. Sept. 24, when patrol officers were called to York Street in the city’s ByWard Market for reports of an assault.

Upon arrival, police say they found two men with serious injuries, who were transported to hospital.

Ottawa Police confirmed the men are Halton police officers who “were not wearing any identifiers as to their profession at the time of the incident.”

Mikkhul Milord, 25, of Ottawa has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and police say further suspects may be identified as the investigation continues.

Back in Halton, Tanner took to X - the social media platform formerly known as Twitter - Tuesday morning to issue a statement condemning what he called a “heinous act.”

He said members of the Halton Regional Police Service were in Ottawa for a national memorial to honour the many officers who were killed in the line of duty across Canada this past year.

“I am both shocked and appalled that, during our time there, a number of individuals in the ByWard market area assaulted a group of our off-duty officers in what was, by all indications, a violent, unprovoked, and cowardly act,” he wrote.

He went on to thank Ottawa police for their investigative work, along with paramedic services and hospital staff for the “exemplary care” they’ve provided the injured Halton officers.

“As a result of their efforts, we are hopeful that both will make swift and full recoveries,” Tanner said in his statement.

In addition, Halton Police Board chair Jeff Knoll issued a separate statement on the topic, which also highlights the “unprecedented” year of violence against police officers across Canada.

“This past weekend, we were all shocked and saddened to learn that two of our own off-duty Halton Regional Police Service officers had been violently attacked and seriously injured while in Ottawa to attend this very important ceremony of remembrance,” he wrote.

“While our officers continue their road to recovery, our board stands firmly behind them and they will always have our full support.”

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Central Criminal Investigations Section at 613-236-1222, ext. 5166.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or http://www.crimestoppers.ca.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The accused person facing charges is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.