Friday, September 19, 2003

ARRESTED FOR ARSON FIRE NORTH OF CITY
Mekatina Siding, Ont.,

A Sault Ste Marie man is in police custody after a garage was found on fire near the isolated community of Mekatina , north of Sault Ste Marie.

Yesterday at about 1:00 p.m. bush workers in the area noticed a garage fire in the McDonald Creek area near Mekatina. The workers responded and called for the assistance of the Batchawana Fire and Rescue with a satellite phone.

Both the bush workers and members of the fire department spotted a suspicious vehicle in the area and several people in the area spoke to the driver of the vehicle. The actions and comments of the driver caused these people to call the police.

Investigation by the OPP led them to a home in the 200 block of Gloucester Street in Sault Ste Marie. As a result, one male was eventually arrested and lodged at the Sault Ste Marie OPP detachment. A full size brown van matching the description of one seen near the fire scene was also seized.

Sixty-one-year-old Walter David Patrick, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested on an outstanding warrant of threatening. Upon arrest police located a loaded handgun and a shotgun stored in an unsafe manner.

Sault Ste. Marie OPP expects to lay further charges of arson and weapons charges today. Mr. Patrick will appear in bail court this afternoon.

This investigation is still ongoing. An investigator from the Office of the Fire Marshall is expected to be at the fire scene later today.


THEFTS FROM VEHICLES IN ECHO BAY
Echo Bay, Ont.,

Sault Ste. Marie OPP is investigating two theft’s from vehicles in the Echo Bay area. Sometime overnight thieves entered the unlocked vehicles and took CD’s and stereo equipment.

The vehicles were located on Church Street and Maple Avenue in Echo Bay. Police would like to remind everyone to lock your vehicle at all times and to call the police if you see anyone who you feel is acting in a suspicious manner.