Sudbury city councillor denies threatening fellow councillor, will co-operate with police investigation

Greater Sudbury city Coun.Michael Vagnini, who is being investigated by police for threatening one of his council colleagues, says he "categorically denies"the allegations.

Following the virtual city council meeting on Jan. 25, Greater Sudbury Police received a complaint from Coun. BIll Leduc, saying he wasthreatened by Vagnini.

Leduc saidhe called police after speaking withVagnini that evening.

"I categorically deny that I committed any criminal offence," Vagnini said in a statement released Monday.

"There was a witness present at the time of the call. I will co-operate with any independent investigation,but until that investigation is complete, my lawyer has advised me not to speak further about the matter."

The statement also saidVagnini has retained Toronto lawyer Michael Lacy, who has taken on several prominent Sudbury defendants in recent years. They includeGerry Lougheed in the byelection trial of 2017, and Steve Wright, who is accused of murdering Renee Sweeney in 1998.

North Bay police, who are handling the investigation because Vagnini sits on the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board, saidthe investigation continues and there is no public update at this time.