Gerry Gamble gets the black flag

OPP NEWS RELEASES

BY CONSTABLE R.J. DINSDALE

BADGE #5381

********************** Our stepped-up enforcement efforts in the construction zones east of Sault Ste. Marie had an impact yesterday. Gerry Gamble, 41, of Echo Bay caught the eye of officers when he travelled through the construction site at an excessive rate of speed.

That was an error in judgment that was to prove costly.

Inquiries were made and it appears that Mr. Gamble had some fines from previous infractions that remained unpaid.

This had caused the Ministry of Transportation to suspend Mr. Gamble's driving privileges.

Further inquiries caused the officers to discover that the vehicle operated by Mr. Gamble was not covered by a valid insurance policy.

Alas, this was not the end of his woes.

Close scrutiny of the licence plate affixed to the car revealed that the validation sticker had been tampered with.

This made it appear to be valid when it was, in reality, expired.

A very expensive day indeed!

********************* A motorist pulled into the Canadian Carver north of Sault Ste. Marie shortly after 6 o'clock last night.

The gas attendant was busy filling another vehicle and the motorist took it upon himself to fill his own gas tank.

After pumping $21 worth of gas into his car, the driver went into the business.

When the gas attendant entered, a short time later, the motorist exited and departed in his car, heading south.

The gas attendant queried the clerk as to whether the motorist had paid for his gas.

If we are writing about this here you can anticipate that the answer to that question was a large 'NO.'

A description of the suspect along with vehicle and licence information was provided to the investigating officer.

The investigation is continuing and we are confident the culprit will be made to pay for this apparent oversight.

********************** Earlier in the day a potential crime was averted.

At Agawa Indian Crafts, around 4:30 p.m. a gentleman attempted to pay for some items with a credit card.

The clerk requested photo identification but the gentleman claimed, after looking in his wallet, that he did not have any.

During the gentleman's wallet search the clerk noted that there was a health card bearing a photo inside.

The gentleman still declined to show photo identification and departed without making any purchases.

The clerk was concerned that this may have been an attempted to defraud his employer and police were called.

A full description of the gentleman, the car and the other occupants of the car were obtained and officers are following up to determine whether a crime was about to be committed or not.

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