Monday, May 12, 2008

Canine Unit Tracks Beer Store Break and Enter Suspect

On the 10th of May at 3:18 am city police responded to an alarm at the Beer Store on Second Line West. When officers arrived they discovered that the front glass door was smashed. Officers checked the store and could not locate anyone inside. The Canine Unit attended and a track commenced. A 17 year-old male youth was located a short distance away with two cases of Budweiser Beer. He was charged with one count of break, enter and commit. He is to appear in court on the 17th of June.

Youth Charged With Drug Trafficking

A 16 year-old male youth was arrested on the 9th of May at 1:10 pm at a local High School and charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug or substance. It is alleged that on the 9th of May the youth, a student at the High School, was found in possession of four individual baggies that contained approximately one gram each of marijuana inside. The accused is to appear in court on the 17th of June.

Female Charged With Assault

34 year-old Lisa Hilderley of 702 Second Line West, Unit #12, was arrested on the 11th of May at 5:35 pm at her residence and charged with one count of assault. It is alleged that the accused attended at another unit at 702 Second Line West , got into a verbal argument with a female known to her, and assaulted her by punching her. There were no injuries reported. She is to appear in court on the 11th of June.

Two Persons Charged With Failing To Provide Breath Samples

41 year-old David Wallingford of 355 Alexandra (upstairs unit) was arrested on the 11th of May at 1:53 am on Alexandra Street and charged with one count of fail to provide breath sample. It is alleged that on the 11th of May at approximately 1:45 am, city police observed a white Intrepid that was southbound on March Street fail to stop for the stop sign at the Queen Street East intersections. Officers stopped the vehicle on Alexandra Street and discovered that the driver, the accused, was under the influence of alcohol. The accused refused to provide a breath sample. He is to appear in court on the 16th of June.

33 year-old Eric Rittenhouse of 3334 Sharon Avenue, Wyoming, Michigan was arrested on the 11th of May at 8:20pm at Canada Customs on Huron Street and charged with one count of fail to provide breath sample. It is alleged that on the 11th of May at just after 8 pm, the accused was driving a Pontiac vehicle and was stopped and checked by Canada Customs when entering Canada. At the time he was checked, the accused appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The accused refused to provide a breath sample. He is to appear in court on the 16th of June.

Weekend Break and Enters:

1) There was an attempt break and enter to a residence on Weldon Avenue on the 9th of May.
2) There was an attempt break and enter to the Todd MacLean’s Chiropractor office on Pim Street sometime overnight on the 9th-10th of May.
3) A residence on Hare Avenue was entered on the 10th of May around 10 pm. It is not known at this time what was taken.
4) A residence on Whitney Avenue was entered on the 11th of May around 1:00 pm. A bicycle, a hoodie, jewellery and cash were reported stolen.
5) A residence on Walters Street was entered on the 11th of May between the hours of 3 pm – 9 pm. The home was ransacked, but nothing appeared to be stolen.
6) A residence in the 500 block of Fourth Line West was entered on the 11th of May at 2:20 pm. The homeowner arrived home and observed the suspect leaving the driveway on a silver bicycle. The male was described as 16-17 years of age, a shaved head, wearing light jeans and red wool gloves.

Thefts Reported Over Weekend:

1) On the 10th of May around 6:40 pm, a vehicle that was parked at the Fort Creek Conservation area was entered while the owner was walking the trials. A purse and wallet were stolen from the vehicle.
2) Garden statues and lawn lights were stolen at a residence on Princeton Drive sometime overnight from the 9th-10th May.
Vehicles were entered overnight on the 10th-11th of May on Glasgow Avenue, Salisbury Avenue, Silverdale Avenue, Rossmore Road and Elliott Road. Items reported stolen were a Sirius Satellite radio, CD’S, a credit card, a bicycle, some change and cigarettes.

Mischief Reports Taken over Weekend:

1) A vehicle parked on Rossmore Road was damaged.
2) City Bus shelters on Goulais Avenue, McNabb Street, Pine Street, and Boundary Road were damaged. The glass panes were smashed out in most of the shelters.
3) A vehicle parked on Princeton Drive was damaged.
4) A rear window was broken on a Toyota Van that was parked in the lot at Northside Toyota.
5) A rock was thrown through a window of a residence in the 200 Block of Second Line West.

April Traffic Statistics and Initiatives

During the month of April, the Sault Ste Marie Police Service continued with selective traffic enforcement initiatives in an ongoing effort to address issues of aggressive driving and keep our roads safe for the lawful use of all citizens.

Over the course of the month a total of 437 tickets were issued under the Highway Traffic Act. Some of the more common charges laid included; Speeding (143), Disobeying Traffic Lights and Stop Signs (28) and Driving Under Suspension (14). Officers also issued more than 90 tickets for vehicle defects, in excess of 50 tickets to motorists for offences relating to driver licences, licence plates and vehicle permits, and almost 80 tickets for failing to carry proof of insurance. Remember, the law requires drivers to have their licence ownership and insurance with them at all times and to provide them to a police officer when requested.

The Provincial Spring Seatbelt Campaign ran from April 16th to 30th. As part of our commitment to this initiative officers checked over twelve hundred vehicles and issued 31 seat belt infractions to drivers and passengers who were not wearing their seat belts.

640 vehicles were stopped at RIDE checks in April. 9 roadside tests were administered resulting in 3 twelve hour licence suspensions were issued. 3 impaired driving charges were laid during the month as a result of vehicle stops however none of these were as a result of RIDE checks.

The Police Service investigated 95 collisions on city streets in April. Charges were laid in 47 of these collisions, including 2 charges of impaired driving.

Beginning in May, the CORE Unit (Street Team) will be assigned to assist Patrol officers with our traffic enforcement initiatives. Theses officers will be monitoring intersections with high incidents of collisions, and will be specifically targeting drivers disobeying traffic lights as well as drivers who make improper turns.

The goal of our enforcement efforts is to ensure that our roadways remain safe for everyone who uses them.