Good Morning Ottawa, The Ottawa Police have been very busy with a number of stories to report on.
On February 2, at approximately 1:05 p.m., at the 2200 block of Riverside Drive, a suspect approached two elderly women who were walking in the area, one of whom was using a walker. The suspect assaulted both women before fleeing on foot. One of the women sustained minor injuries. The suspect is described as a White man, approximately 20 to 25 years old, with a thin build. At the time of the incident, he was wearing sunglasses, a dark tuque, a blue and green jacket, dark pants, and mismatched shoes, one black and one white. The investigation remains ongoing and the OPS are requesting anyone with information to contact Detective Vianney Calixte from the East Criminal Investigations Section.
In March 2026, the Ottawa Police Service’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit (SACA) arrested and charged Donald McNeil, 42, after police launched an investigation in December 2025 with allegations of Sexual Assault and Sexual Interference involving a child from 2013 and two adults in 2025. McNeil is charged with the following: Sexual Interference x2, Invitation to Sexual Touching, Forcible Confinement, and Sexual Assault x4. SACA investigators are concerned there could be other victims in and around the Ottawa area. Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit.
In a related story, Constable Goran Beric was found guilty of assault and assault with a weapon in October 2023 in connection to an incident involving a man at an Ottawa Community Housing building in August 2021. He received a suspended sentence with 30 months probation. In 2025, Beric pleaded guilty to three counts of discreditable conduct and two counts of insubordination under the Code of Conduct for police. A hearing officer ordered Beric to resign from the force within seven days or be fired. Beric appealed the penalty, and a hearing was held on Jan. 15. Beric’s representative in the appeal process asked for a “range of demotion to Third Class Constable for twelve months and upon completion will be returned to Second Class Constable for twelve months and then return to First Class Constable”. In a decision released on Friday, May 8, the Ontario Police Arbitration and Adjudication Commission panel dismissed the appeal, ruling the hearing officer’s “decision on penalty was reasonable.” This outcome confirms that Williams must resign within 7 days or face dismissal. As reported by Josh Pringle of CTV, Beric earned $131,149 in 2025 while suspended.
