Thunder Bay Police: Man who said he walked from Minnesota assaults officers

A U.S. citizen is facing several charges in Canada after allegedly assaulting Thunder Bay police officers on Monday night, after he claimed he had walked to the city from the U.S.

According to a news release from the Thunder Bay Police Service, officers encountered the 23-year-old man after responding to a report of an unwanted male behind the Home Depot store. Police say the man claimed to have walked from Minnesota into Canada about one week ago.

The man was arrested, but police say he became combative as they arrived at the police station. The man allegedly struck two of the officers and uttered threats during the evening.

A police news release did not say whether the officers were injured.

Police say the Canada Border Services Agency had no record of the man’s entry to Canada, but that CBSA is investigating. The land border between the U.S. and Canada is currently closed to non-essential crossings, with entry for vaccinated Americans set to begin on Aug. 9.

Aside from the official Grand Portage and Fort Frances points of entry, crossing the border on foot from northeastern Minnesota to northwestern Ontario is difficult since rivers, lakes, and waterfalls line the border in the largely roadless region. Land border crossings are more common between northwestern Minnesota and Manitoba, where there is no physical barrier.

The man faces two counts of assaulting a peace officer as well as charges of uttering threats and mischief under $5,000. He is being held in custody pending a future court date. His home city and state were not immediately released.