Tuesday, July 17, 2007

UPDATE: Break & Enter at Sault Search & Rescue

A joint investigation between the Sault Ste Marie Police Service and the Sault Ste Marie Detachment of Ontario Provincial Police has resulted in the arrest of one male and the recovery of a substantial amount of equipment. It is alleged that between Thursday July 12th and Friday July 13th two males broke into the Sault Search and Rescue building located on Industrial Court.
At approx. 2:00 am this morning the two accused were stopped by the O.P.P. north of the city for a Highway Traffic Act infraction. Upon investigating the driver it was learned that he was wanted by the Sault Ste Marie Police Service for two committal warrants. The driver, Samuel Stevens was arrested for the warrants and the vehicle and trailer were impounded. The second male was released at that time. Upon the O.P.P. officer attending at the city police station it was learned that a break and enter had occurred at the Sault Search and Rescue building and a trailer matching the description of the one impounded had been reported stolen. As a result Samuel James Stevens, age 24, of no fixed address was arrested and is charged with one count of break and enter, one count of possession of housebreaking tools and four counts of possession of property obtained by crime. The accused is presently in custody awaiting a hearing before a justice. A warrant is being issued for the arrest of the second male. The equipment stolen from the break and enter included two cargo trailers, two snow machines, two all terrain vehicles, an Argo and a rescue toboggan. All the property recovered belonged to the Sault Search and Rescue.

Yesterday morning at approx. 11:00 am officers from the Sault Ste Marie Police Service arrested 18-year-old Fred McLeod of 30 Birch Grove in Heyden. It is alleged that Fred McLeod is the second male involved in the above noted break and enter to the Sault Search and Rescue building on Industrial Park Rd. Mr. McLeod is charged with one count of break and enter, one count of possession of housebreaking tools and four count of possession of property obtained by crime. He will be appearing in court on Monday Aug. 20th.

Theft Under $5,000

Yesterday afternoon city police attended at a downtown residence and arrested a 53-year-old female and charged her with one count of theft under $5,000 and breach of probation. It is alleged that the accused attended at her common-law partner’s residence on July12 and stole some of his belongings. At the time of this offence the accused was on probation with conditions to keep the peace. The accused will be appearing in court on
Aug 20th at 9:00 am.

The following five persons will be appearing in bail court today:

1) Yesterday morning city police officers attended at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre and arrested 38-year-old Shawn Cote. It is alleged that during the first week of July the accused attempted to obstruct justice by communicating with a witness and advising the witness to change her testimony. At the time of this offence the accused was on a recognizance release order not to communicate with the witness. Mr. Cote is charged with one count of Obstruct justice and one count of breach of recognizance.

2) Yesterday evening city police attended at a west end residence regarding a fight. Upon arrival officers received information that an 18-year-old male at the residence had assaulted another family member and had threatened to kill that person. When the accused was being led from the residence he became violent and started to fight with police. He was subsequently subdued and arrested. The accused is charged with one count of assault, one count of resist arrest, one count of assault police and one count of threatening death.

3) Yesterday morning city police officers attended at a west end address in regards to a domestic dispute. It is alleged that the accused pushed and elbowed his common-law partner. As a result the 28-year-old male was arrested and charged with one count of assault. The victim did not require medical attention.

4) Early this morning officers from the Sault Ste Marie Police Service arrested 46-year-old Gary Muskaluk of 146 St. George’s Ave. W. and charged him with one count of breach of recognizance. It is alleged that the accused was consuming alcohol at a downtown tavern while on conditions to abstain from alcohol.

5) At approx.10:30 pm last night city police were contacted by an off duty O.P.P. officer regarding a possible impaired driver. The officer was following a vehicle that was being driven erratically south on Highway 17 from Heyden into Sault Ste Marie. City police officers stopped the vehicle on Second Line E. and subsequently arrested the male driver for impaired driving. Upon searching the vehicle officers located a flick knife (a prohibited weapon) and baggies containing what are believed to be cocaine. As a result the officers arrested the driver and the female passenger. The driver, 27-year-old Richard Atherton of 33 St. Andrews Terr. is charged with one count of impaired driving, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking and three counts of breach of probation. When first arrested the accused gave offices a false name to avoid being charged with driving while suspended he was further charged with one count of obstruct police. Mr. Atherton will be appearing in bail court today.

The passenger in the vehicle 21-year-old Shannon Penfold of 178 Bitonti Cres has been charged with one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and one count of possession of a substance for the purpose of trafficking. Ms Penfold will be appearing in court on Monday Aug 20th.

City police received one report of a break and enter yesterday.

An apartment building in the 100 block of Breton Rd. was broken into. It is unknown what was stolen at this time.

City police received three reports of mischief to vehicle yesterday.

A vehicle parked in the 700 block of Pine St. had its front windshield damaged Vehicles parked in the 200 block of Elizabeth St. and the 600 block of Bay St. were keyed.

In the past 24 hours the Sault Ste Marie Police Service received five reports of thefts or attempted thefts of vehicles.

Two vehicles were stolen from City Centre Motor located in the 700 block of Great Northern Rd., one vehicle was stolen from the 600 block of MacDonald Ave, an attempted theft of a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of Pim St. and the 100 block of Allard St. The Sault Ste Marie Police Service is reminding the public to take proper precautions to secure your vehicles.