An investigation has led to three area residents facing multiple theft charges after the Ontario Provincial Police, with the help of other area officers, investigated catalytic converter thefts on Highway 17B in Macdonald- Meredith -Aberdeen Additional Township.
Police say that on Aug. 3, shortly after 6 a.m., suspects attended a school bus compound and cut a catalytic converter from one bus and attempted to cut off a second from another bus. Security video showed them leaving in a white SUV.
The following day at approximately 8 a.m., the complainant contacted the OPP reporting that the same SUV had returned to the compound before leaving again.
Police proceeded to patrol the highway and, with the help of members of the North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement unity, saw the SUV at a property in Garden River First Nation before initiating a traffic stop a short time later on Highway 17B.
A search of the three suspects and the vehicle found suspected drug paraphernalia, over 10 grams of suspected cocaine, a stolen cheque, tools used for break and enter and a number of stolen items.
Brandon Bennett, 38, of the Sault is facing charges of:
- two counts of theft over $5,000
- three counts of mischief over $5,000
- three counts of possession property obtained by crime under $5,000
- possession break-in instruments
- possession of a Schedule I Substance - cocaine
- possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking - cocaine
Allysia Solomon, 26, of Garden River First Nation has been charged with:
- theft over $5,000
- two counts of mischief over $5,000
- three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- possession of break-in instruments
- failure to comply with undertaking
- possession of a Schedule I Substance - cocaine
- possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking - cocaine
Robert Clarke, 35, of the Sault has been charged with:
- three counts of possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- possession of break-in instruments
- possession of a Schedule I Substance - cocaine
- possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking - cocaine
Officers with the Forensic Identification Unit, the Sault Ste. Marie Crime Unit, North East Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and the Batchewana First Nation Police Service were also involved in the investigation.