Accused threw beer cans, threatened to break person's legs: OPP

A Sault Ste. Marie resident faces multiple charges after police say they were serving alcohol to minors, and threatened and assaulted a victim at a Heyden residence on the evening of July 16.

OPP said in a news release that 39-year-old Ioan Bratu “threatened to break the complainant's legs twice, threw and struck the complainant with a beer can twice, continued to make obscene gestures, and continued swearing and being belligerent.”

Full text of the news release follows:

On July 16, 2023 shortly before 6 p.m., members from the Sault Ste Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a disturbance on Jody Lane in Aweres Township.

Investigation determined and unknown person was dropped off at a local trailer park in Heyden and was [allegedly] serving beer to minors, making obscene gestures to the youth and to the complainant.

The complainant who was concerned for the well-being of the youth asked this person to leave the area several times. During the encounters, [it is alleged that] the individual threatened to break the complainant's legs twice, threw and struck the complainant with a beer can twice and continued to make obscene gestures, continued swearing and being belligerent.

Police arrived on scene a short time later and located the accused. The accused became belligerent and confrontational towards police. A struggle ensued with police effecting an arrest. The accused was then transported to Sault Ste. Marie detachment for processing.

As a result, Ioan Bratu, 39 years of age from Sault Ste. Marie, was charged with:
    •    Assault with a weapon
    •    Uttering threats - cause death or bodily harm
    •    Resist peace officer
    •    Abandoning material that is likely to become litter
    •    Knowingly supplying liquor to person under 19 years
    •    Having liquor in open container in unauthorized place

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on Aug. 28, 2023.