Friday, April 18, 2003

MOTHER AND CHILD HELD CAPTIVE-EX SPOUSE IN CUSTODY
Northland Lake, Searchmont,

Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. have one man in custody after an ex-spouse and a five-year-old child were held against their will for five days.

On Thursday, April 17, Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. received a 911 call that a woman was being assaulted at a home on Northland Lake Road in the Searchmont area.

As police were approaching the scene they came across the suspect who was leaving the area. He was immediately arrested and taken back to the Sault Ste. Marie detachment.

As the investigation unfolded it has been revealed that the victim and her five-year-old daughter were at the house on Sunday, April 13. The ex-spouse arrived and threatened the lives of the woman and daughter if they tried to leave or call for assistance.

All but one telephone was disabled by the suspect and any calls in or out were continually monitored by the accused. The woman suffered a continual barrage of assaults over the five days that she was held against her will. Her life and the life of her five-year-old child were also threatened.

On Thursday, April 17, at about 3:00 p.m., unknown to the accused, the victim was able to get a phone call to a friend. She was only able to leave a message for the friend that she was being assaulted.

At that time the victim was able to escape the house and fled to a neighbour's home. The accused fled the scene in a pick-up truck and was taken into police custody as he was leaving this isolated area.

The victim was taken to the Sault Area Hospital were she was treated for several injuries and released. The mother and daughter are recovering at a place of safety.

As this investigation continues, police expect to lay numerous other criminal charges against the man. Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. have sealed off the house and garage at Northland Lake. Members of the Sault Ste. Marie Crime Unit, the Forensic Identification Unit and General Duties officers are at the scene continuing their investigation.

The thirty-three-year-old Sault Ste. Marie man now faces a long list of criminal charges. Some of the charges include Assault, Forcible Confinement, and Breach of Probation. He has been remanded to the Sault Ste Marie Jail and will appear in Sault Ste Marie Bail Court on Tuesday afternoon.


DRIVER INJURED
Goulais River
The driver of a pick-up truck lost control of the vehicle on Highway 552 East yesterday and rolled over. The male driver was ejected from the truck ands was taken to the Sault Area Hospital by ambulance. His injuries were not life threatening. The highway was closed briefly while the pick-up was removed. The driver has not yet been identified by the O.P.P. and the investigation is continuing.


BREAK & ENTER
St. Joseph Island - On Wednesday April 16 at approximately 2:30 p.m. the East Algoma Thessalon OPP was advised of a break and enter that occurred on Hamilton Drive, Hilton Township on St. Joseph Island.

The garage had been entered sometime between April 13 - 16, 2003. Items taken in the break and enter include a 3 drawer red toolbox full of various tools and a blue 2-cylinder air compressor.

If you have any information regarding this break and enter, please call the East Algoma OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-705-942-7867.


POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY
St. Joseph Island - On Wednesday April 16, 2003 at approximately 6:30 p.m. a resident of St. Joseph Island was out for a run on 15th Side Road in St. Joseph Township. As he was passing a residence he observed a well-known limestone carving of a "Great Horned Owl" leaning against the step of the house.

The carving used to rest on a pedestal at a family cottage on Shore Road on St. Joseph Island. This carving is well known to the residents and visitors of St. Joseph Island. It had been carved in 1988 by a professional artist and designer - Domenico Mortellito, who has since passed away.

The runner took the time to go to Shore Road to check the pedestal where the carving was always displayed to find that it was missing. The runner then returned home and made some inquiries to make sure that the carving had not been sold. The owners were contacted and verified that the carving had not been sold and should still be sitting atop the pedestal.

The East Algoma Thessalon OPP was contacted and went to the residence on 15th Side Road where the carving was visible from the road. Charged with "Possession of Stolen Property" are Allen Gerard Duplin (18) and Melissa Lillian Jones (18) of 15th Side Road, St. Joseph Island. They are both slated to appear in Thessalon court to answer to the charges on June 26, 2003.


FIRE
St. Joseph Island - On April 17 at approximately 1:00 am, the East Algoma Thessalon OPP was conducting patrols on St. Joseph Island when they stopped a motor vehicle to speak with the occupant. The driver advised he was enroute to a cottage fire on Cottage Road, St. Joseph Island.

The East Algoma Thessalon OPP and the St. Joseph Island Fire Department attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. The Fire Chief will be investigating the scene again in the daylight hours today.