Monday, April 19, 2004

SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING SNOW MACHINE OPERATOR

Ranger Lake, Ont.,

The search for a missing snow machine operator on Ranger Lake, north east of Searchmont will continue today.

Members of the O.P.P. Underwater Search and Recovery Unit arrived overnight and will start the search for the missing snow machine operator this morning.

A search of the Ranger Lake area by the OPP helicopter yesterday located one of the two men on shore yesterday afternoon. He was taken to Sault and Area Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with several medical issues.

Forty seven year old John Robert FARRELL, of Sault Ste Marie, is missing and presumed drowned in Ranger Lake. His brother, forty six year old Bernard FARRELL of Sault Ste Marie is still in Sault and Area Hospital this morning.

The OPP helicopter as well as the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit will return to Ranger Lake this morning to continue the search for John Farrell.

SPEEDING CHARGE LEADS TO DRUG FIND

Laird Twp, Ont.,

A speeding charge on Hwy 17 in Laird Twp this weekend resulted in a pound of drugs found in the offending vehicle.

On Saturday morning at about 9:30 a.m. an officer with the Sault Ste Marie Detachment stopped a vehicle for speeding. The officer detected an odour of drugs in the car and could see drugs on the floor of the vehicle. A search of the car revealed about a pound of marijuana.

Twenty seven year old Luc Essimabre of Brantford, Ontario and twenty three year old Sandy Mozes of Whistler, British Columbia now face charges of Possession for the Purposes of Trafficking. They have been released from custody and will appear in court in mid May to answer to the charge.

SEAT BELT CHECKS FINDS IMPAIRED DRIVER

Heyden, Ont.,

A seatbelt check on Hwy 556 in Heyden found more than just a seat belt violation. On Saturday 17 April at about 8:30 p.m. officers with the Sault Ste Marie Detachment were conducting a seat belt check when a driver approached the checkpoint not wearing his seat belt.

Officers could detect alcohol on the mans breath and he was given a roadside breath test. He failed that test and was taken back to the police station for a Breathalyser test. The driver failed that test and now faces charges of Driving with a Blood Alcohol Level over .08

Thirty nine year old Michael BUMPHREY of Sault Ste Marie was also issued a seat belt ticket. He will appear in court in May to answer to the drinking and driving charge.

Water, Water Everywhere- Except the Reservoir

(Blind River, Ont.) Bandits in Blind River saw fit to tamper with a fire hydrant in the Boom Camp area and release a substantial quantity of water. So much so that it set off the low water alarm.

Sometime after 9:00 p.m. on Friday 16 April and before midnight persons unknown opened a fire hydrant without being seen and lowered the water level for the Town of Blind River. The Hydrant is located on Boom Camp Road south of Colonization Rd. in the Towns West End.

Police have no suspects at this time and are asking the public to call them if they have any information regarding this potentially serious incident.
O.P.P. 1-888-310-1122.