Thursday, February 24, 2005

Fire Investigation

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service continues its investigation into a fire that occurred on Tuesday night in the 100 block of Capp Avenue. The residence was a vacant however a mattress in the home had been set on fire. Damage was minimal and the home received some smoke damage. Officers from Investigation Services are continuing to interview witnesses and is appealing to the public for their assistance. If you know who may be responsible for deliberately setting this fire, call City Police at 949-6300.

Attempted Break and Enter

City Police arrested 21-year old Raymond Gregoire yesterday morning. It is alleged that on the 22nd of February the accused entered Cliffe’s Printing on Spring Street during the daytime hours, went into an office and was caught by staff looking through a desk. Nothing appears to have been taken. The accused left the business prior to police arrival. The accused has been charged with one count of break and enter with intent. He will appear in bail court this morning.

Yesterday officers from the Fraud Unit arrested 2 males for 2 separate incidents:

23-year old John Varley of RR#4, Echo Bay was arrested yesterday afternoon. It is alleged that on February 14th the accused removed a bar card from one speaker and placed it on another speaker at Wal-Mart. The bar code the accused put on a speaker indicated that speaker was worth approximately $30 when in reality the speaker the accused paid $30 for was worth approximately $120. At the time of the offence the accused was on a probation order to keep the peace and be good. Mr. Varley has been charged with one count of fraud and one count of breach of probation. He will appear in court on April 4th.

34-year old Donald Vanderwater of 2 Brunet Rd, Elliott Lake was arrested yesterday morning and charged with 41 counts of fraud. It is alleged that between October 1st, 2004 and February 23rd, 2005 the accused defrauded his customers by failing to provide residential snowplowing services after receiving payment for those services. The accused had offered this service through his business known as “Mr. Plow”. It is also alleged that the accused cashed in post dated cheques for this business and service even after the accused ceased his business operation. The victims all live in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused will appear in court on April 4th.

Motor Vehicle Collision

Yesterday afternoon just before 4 pm officers from Traffic Services attended on Trunk Road in the 400 block for a motor vehicle collision with injuries. A car operated by 51-year old Lilliane Disano of 81 Willowdale St. was stopped on Trunk Road facing west. A pickup truck being operated by 39-year old Daniel Cripps was traveling eastbound on Trunk Road when it is alleged that the truck crossed the centre line, struck the Disano vehicle, veered around the rear of the car, crossed both oncoming lanes of traffic (eastbound), ran off the roadway, through a ditch, and up and over the train tracks before coming to a stop in a second ditch. Mr. Cripps was taken by ambulance to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Vehicle damage is described as moderate. Mr. Cripps has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario with one count of fail to share half roadway-meeting vehicle.