UPDATE: OPP officials say charges have been laid in connection with the death of an Ontario Provincial Police officer who was killed while on duty during a vehicle stop near Hearst on June 9, 2026.
Police allege that at approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the James Bay OPP were attempting to stop a vehicle as part of an ongoing investigation when an officer was struck during the attempted apprehension. The officer, OPP Provincial Constable Tarun Bali, was seriously injured and later pronounced deceased.
OPP members and a Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service member took the individual into custody at the scene.
As a result of the investigation, an 18-year-old Hearst man has been charged with first degree murder, assaulting a police officer, two counts of flight from police, resisting arrest, dangerous operation causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Hearst on June 24, 2026.
The investigation is continuing under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with assistance from the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
In a statement, the OPP said it is supporting the officer’s family and extended condolences to colleagues and the policing community, while asking that the family’s privacy be respected during this time.
Provincial Constable Bali, who was 29, served with the Dufferin Detachment and had two and a half years of service. At the time of his death, he was on deployment with the James Bay Detachment.
The Ontario Provincial Police says an officer has died after being seriously injured while conducting an investigation in the Hearst area Tuesday afternoon.
Police say members of the James Bay OPP were working at Kendall Concession Road 7 and Concession Road 6 at approximately 12:30 p.m. on June 9, 2026, when the officer was injured during the course of an investigation. The officer was later pronounced dead. One individual is in custody.
The officer has been identified as Provincial Constable Tarun Bali, a member of the OPP’s Dufferin Detachment with two and a half years of service. At the time of the incident, he was deployed with the James Bay Detachment.
The OPP says the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation by the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Police say support is being provided to the officer’s family, colleagues and others within the policing community as they cope with the loss.
“OPP is supporting the member’s family as they navigate this profound loss,” the service said in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by this tragic event and recognize its significant impact on loved ones, colleagues and the broader policing community.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
