Wednesday, March 10, 2010

ARRESTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENDERS

The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet has laid numerous charges in connection with a co-ordinated, province-wide child pornography investigation.
The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet was created in August 2006 in response to the McGuinty government’s request that police develop a coordinated, province-wide approach to combating Internet crimes against children. The Provincial Strategy is jointly supported by the Ministry of the Attorney-General for Ontario and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
As a result of this investigation, 20 year-old David Marceau of 160 Turner Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, was arrested on the 9th of March at 7:10 am at his residence and charged with one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography for the purpose of distribution. He was to appear in bail court this morning. The investigation is continuing locally and an arrest warrant has been issued for another local male.

Fraudulent Telephone Calls

The city police have received two calls from concerned citizens regarding telephone calls that they have received over the past couple of days from persons identifying themselves as Master Card Representatives. The callers are requesting information regarding their Master Cards and requesting the numbers of their cards. The calls are originating from the Toronto area with the number 416-000-00000. At this time these calls appear to be fraudulent.

Safety Tip Reminders regarding Fraudulent Telephone Calls:

• Do not give out your credit card number, your passwords or PIN over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from a legitimate company
• Do not give out credit card information by e-mail as it is not a secure method of transmission.
• Only share your personal information with companies you know and trust.
• Report suspicious calls to police. We will respond to these calls. You can also contact Phone Busters at 1-888-495-8501.
• If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Domestic Related Arrest

A 33 year-old male was arrested on the 9th of March at 5:26 pm and charged with one count of assault and one count of threaten death or bodily harm. It is alleged that in May 2009, the accused assaulted his wife at their residence and on the 8th of March 2010, the accused contacted the same victim by phone and threatened to kill her. He is to appear in bail court this morning.

Drug Warrant Results in Arrest

On the 9th of March at 3:30 pm, members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Street Team and Canine Unit executed a search warrant at 715 Douglas Street, apartment 5. During the course of the search, officers located a small amount of marihuana, packaging materials, 2 digital scales and drug paraphernalia. As a result, 19 year-old Scott Donofrio of 274 Bainbridge Street was charged with one count of possession of a controlled drug or substance. He is to appear in court on the 12th of April.

Fraud Related Charges

48 year-old Jeffrey McWhinney of 115 South Market Street was arrested on the 9th of March at 6:10 pm at the city police station and charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000.00 and five counts of theft over $5,000.00. It is alleged that between December 11th 1997 and August 14th 2002, the accused misappropriated client’s funds as an insurance agent by receiving and converting these funds for his own use. Five separate victims were involved and the approximate fraud value was $353,972.00. He is to appear in court on the 12th of April.

Female Shoplifter Charged

31 year-old Jacquilynne Gray of 826 Second Line East was arrested on the 9th of March at 6 pm at Zellers on Northern Avenue and charged with one count of theft under $5,000.00. It is alleged that she attended at the store at 4:42 pm and stole some items. She was apprehended by store security and held for police. She is to appear in court on the 12th of April.

Female Charged with Mischief

46 year-old Carmella Ucci of #411-31 Old Garden River Road was arrested on the 9th of March at 8:30 pm on Queen Street East and charged with one count of mischief under $5,000.00. It is alleged that yesterday evening just before 8 pm she damaged some medical equipment in one of the emergency rooms at Sault Area Hospital. She is to appear in court on the 12th of April.

Mischief Reports

Several vehicles were vandalized in the areas of Bay Street, Lewis Road, Park Street, Kohler Street, Wellington Street East, Dacey Road, Macdonald Avenue and East Street.

Break and Enter

A residence on Pardee Avenue was entered over the past weekend. Jewellery, entertainment equipment and two small dirt bikes were reported stolen.

Theft Report

A Schwinn 21 speed bike was stolen yesterday morning in the 300 block of Queen Street East.