Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Nine Adults Arrested when Search Warrant Executed

At approximately 6:00 am this morning officers from the Sault Ste Marie Police Emergency Services Unit and the Joint Forces Drug Unit, which is comprised of the Sault Ste Marie Police Service, the OPP Drug Enforcement Section, the RCMP and the OPP North East Region, executed a search warrant at a residence at 142 Albert Street East (upstairs apt.). Nine adults, seven males and two females, have been arrested and are currently in custody. Most of the charges are drug related and some of the persons that were located at the residence were arrested on outstanding warrants for failing to appear court /prints and breach of release documents. Drugs were located at the residence. The investigation is ongoing and there are no other details to be released at this time.

City Police are currently investigating three separate purse snatching incidents that have occurred during the past 24 hours:

1) On the 24th of September at approximately 3:17 am a 32 year-old female was walking through the parking lot of Tim Hortons at McNabb and Pine Street when a male attempted to grab her purse near the garbage bin area. The victim would not let go of the purse and the male pushed her against the dumpster and pushed her heard into the dumpster and tried to pull the purse away from her. The victim continued to hang on to the purse and the male ran off empty handed. The victim received injuries that did not require medical attention. The suspect in this incident was described as a white male, 180 lbs, medium build, brown hair and approximately 5’8” – 5’9”, wearing black jeans, a blue jean jacket and a white t-shirt. The male had a deep raspy voice. City Police searched the area for the suspect with negative results.

2) On the 24th of September at approximately 7 pm a 48 year-old female was using the rear Queen Street East CIBC instant teller machine when a male grabbed her purse from her arm and ran west on Queen Street East. The female was not physically injured in any way. Police searched the area with negative results. The suspect in this incident was described as being in his 30’s, approximately 6’ tall, thin build, short brown hair, wearing blue jeans, a white polo shirt with wide, light blue horizontal stripes and sunglasses.

3) The third incident occurred at 10 pm on the 24th of September. A 64 year-old female was walking eastbound on Bay Street. When she was in the area of the Northern Credit Union at 480 Bay Street, the victim noticed a male person walking behind her. The male disappeared for a moment when she got to the side area of the bank. When the victim got to the sidewalk in front of the bank she was suddenly struck in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. The male stole her purse from her and ran in a northeasterly direction. The victim received injuries that did not require medical attention. Again police searched the area with negative results. The male suspect is described as being in his 20’s, 5’4” – 5’8”, slim build, clean cut, wearing baggy pants and a grey hoodie style sweater.

At this time, it is not known if the incidents are related in any way. Investigation Services will be continuing the investigations. If anyone has any information regarding these incidents, please contact city police at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

The following two persons will be appearing in bail court this morning:

1) 36 year-old Janice Laforge of 138 Turner Avenue was arrested on the 24th of September at 1:40 pm on Tancred Street and charged with one count of theft under $5,000.00, one count of obstruct Peace Officer and one count of breach of probation. It is alleged that on the 24th of September at approximately 1:25 pm the accused attended at the Second Hand World Shop on Tancred Street and stole an IPOD valued at $36.98. When officers were dealing with the accused she gave them a false name and address. At the time of the incident the accused was on probation conditions to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

2) 25 year-old Jennifer Adams of 329 First Avenue was arrested on several outstanding warrants on the 24th of September at 1:35 pm on Spring Street. She has been charged with three counts of failing to appear court from May and August of this year.

Youth Arrested in Connection with Break & Enter

A 16 year-old male youth has been arrested in connection to the break and enters reported over the weekend on Prentice Avenue. The youth was arrested at 7:25 pm at the City Police Station and has been charged with two counts of break, enter and commit and one count of mischief under $5,000.00. It is alleged that on the 23rd of September between the hours of 1:30 and 4 am the accused, along with two other male youths that cannot be named at this time, broke into two garages on Prentice Avenue and stole two snowbirds, two pair of snow board boots, a pair of hockey gloves, four speakers, a computer tower and a mountain bike. Total amount of items that were stone was $1300.00. All the property was recovered by city police. The accused is to appear in court on the 23rd of October.

Theft Under $5,000

53 year-old Dennis Theriault of 778 Wellington Street East was arrested on the 24th of September at 10 pm on Church Street and charged with one count of theft under $5,000.00. It is alleged that on the 24th of September at 10 pm city police received a complaint of a male going through vehicles on Church Street. When officers attended they located the accused in a driveway in the 100 block of Church Street and he had contents inside a bag he was carrying that he had stolen out of the vehicle in the driveway. He is to appear in court on the 29th of October.

The following break and enters were reported yesterday:

1) A residence was entered on Elizabeth Street sometime on the 24th of September. No items were reported stolen. The complainant reported that the home computer was used during the break in.

2) A residence on Red Pine Drive was entered between 8:30 pm on the 23rd of September and 1:30 pm on the 24th. A stereo, a DVD player, some beer and liquor were stolen.