Saturday, April 19, 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.