(Wingham, North Huron) — Current Huron OPP Detachment Commander Laura Lee Brown is facing significant blowback over the alleged attempted cover-up of the February 17, 2026 assaults involving North Huron Deputy Reeve Kevin Falconer.
Victims report that their statements were destroyed (went missing) and that they were threatened by both OPP officers and town staff. In response, victims threatened to take to the streets, flag down officers, and seek help while live streaming. It ultimately took the OPP 52 days to begin gathering evidence.
Victims and witnesses stood their ground and demanded action. After 52 days, the OPP were finally pressured into taking a victim’s statement. On April 10, 2026, Officer Reed was captured on video refusing to take a statement from a witness. The witness reported feeling threatened when Reed insisted they move to a private back room in Clinton.
When viewed in context — including allegations of OPP officers removing cameras from citizens, three active SIU investigations in Clinton, the refusal to lay charges against Falconer despite what witnesses describe as overwhelming evidence, and reports that one complainant suffered broken ribs — serious concerns are being raised about conduct within the Clinton OPP detachment.
The OPP have also been accused of restricting access to press releases, effectively keeping the public in the dark. Critics describe this as a “weaponization” of public information — an approach they argue is unprofessional and contrary to public interest. In most jurisdictions across Ontario, police press releases are openly accessible, as they are intended for the public.
Free Press editors state they have unanimously decided to begin publishing contact information for OPP Media Relations officers, allowing the public to request press releases directly and subscribe to distribution lists.
“We are tired of mainstream media censoring police press releases and withholding the names of individuals who may pose a threat to our community. The public has the right to know who is being arrested and why.”
The public should be able to access Ontario Provincial Police news releases without restriction. Critics argue that the current practice of limiting access to information must end, and that mainstream media must stop filtering information the public relies on to stay informed and safe.
Below is a partial list of email addresses for OPP Media Relations officers. It is their role to keep the public informed. If full public access is not restored through official channels (https://oppnews.ca/), citizens are being encouraged to contact Media Relations directly to request updates.