Monday, April 10, 2006

Evacuated Residents to Return Home

(Garden Village, Ontario) –Anishinabek Police Service, West Nipissing Police and the North Bay OPP are confirming that one male suspect has been taken into custody in relation to the deaths of two persons in Garden Village April 09, 2006.

Residents who were evacuated from the area are now being allowed to return.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Earlton, Ontario Man Arrested in Leduc, Alberta
Canada-Wide Arrest Warrant - Custody Order Breached

(Temiskaming Shores, ON) A six-month long OPP investigation has resulted in the apprehension of a 63-year-old Earlton, Ontario man, Joseph Stagg, who was wanted on a Canada -wide arrest warrant for breach of a custody order.

Joseph Stagg, Lot 10 Concession 6 Armstrong Twp. and Tenth Street, Earlton was last seen at a residence west of Charlton, Ontario on Friday, September 16th, 2005 when he arrived to pickup his daughter for a scheduled visit. He failed to return his daughter to the legal guardian on Sunday, September 18th, 2005.

Investigators from the Temiskaming detachment traced the accused to Leduc, Alberta, a small town south of Edmonton where he and his daughter were living. The RCMP where notified and Leduc detachment members made the arrest. Stagg is charged with Abduction in Contravention of Custody Order, Sect 282(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada

The RCMP Missing Children’s Registry is assisting with the safe return of the youth to Ontario.

Officers from the Temiskaming Crime Unit will return Stagg to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Haileybury, Ontario, on the 12th of April 2006.


Shots Fired & Residents Evacuated

(Garden Village, Ontario) – On Sunday April 9th, 2006 at approximately 9:30 p.m. the Anishinabek Police Service (APS), the West Nipissing Police Service and the North Bay OPP responded to a 911 call reporting two persons had been shot at a residence on the Garden Village First Nation Territory east of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.

Two people are confirmed deceased and police are seeking a suspect in connection with this case. The OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit (T.R.U.) from Kingston, Ontario have been deployed to assist, as the suspect is believed to be located at a residence near the scene. Local area residents are being evacuated from their homes in order to facilitate the apprehension of the suspect.

A command post has been set up and police along with the North Bay OPP Crime Unit remain at the scene. The identities of the deceased are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.

APS, West Nipissing Police and the North Bay OPP are continuing their investigation under the direction of Detective Inspector Mark Pritchard, Criminal Investigation Branch.

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Searchmont Vistor Puts Up A Struggle

A visitor to Searchmont now faces several criminal charges after he failed to stop for police on Friday.

At about 10:00 p.m. on Friday night an officer from the Sault Ste Marie OPP Detachment was patrolling the Searchmont area when he tried to pull over a pick up truck. The truck would not pull over and continued along Hwy 532 in Searchmont for about 2 kms at speeds of 60-80 km/h. The driver of the truck pulled into a residential driveway and he ran toward the back door of the house.

After a brief foot chase the officer caught up to the driver of the truck at the back door of the home. A brief struggle ensued and the man was eventually taken into custody. During the struggle the glass on the door was broken and the accused cut his hand.

The investigation revealed the man is out on bail and one of the conditions is not to consume alcohol. The accused had been drinking but not enough to substantiate any drinking and driving charges.

Another Point That Proves R.I.D.E. Programs Work

A R.I.D.E check set up on Hwy 556 in Heyden found one local resident drinking and driving.

On Friday April 7, 2006 at about 10:30 p.m. members of the OPP Traffic and Marine Unit were conducting a R.I.D.E. check on Hwy 556 near Old Mill Road in Heyden. One driver approached the checkpoint and officers detected indicators that the man may have been drinking and driving.

Further investigation and testing confirmed the officer’s suspicion that the man was driving while over the legal limit of alcohol.

Thirty two year old Greg ALTON, of Hwy 556 in Heyden, was charged with Driving While Over the Legal Limit. He has had his licence suspended for the next 90 days and will appear in Sault Ste Marie court on May 15, 2006.


The man was taken to the hospital for treatment of the cut hand. Twenty seven year old James Christopher LOVATSIS, of Baysville Ontario is charged with Failing to Stop for Police, Resisting Arrest, and Breach of a Recognizance. He was released from police custody and will be appearing in Sault Ste Marie court on May 15 2006.