Thursday, June 22, 2006

OUTDOOR MARIJUANA GROW OP ERADICATED

(Harbour Island, Ont.) On June 22, 2006, acting on information from members of the public, members of Manitoulin OPP, OPP Northeast Region Emergency Response Team and OPP Drug Enforcement Section Rural Operations Team converged on Harbour Island, located about 20 kms west of Little Current in the North Channel.

Information and investigation lead the police to believe there was a group of individuals growing marijuana on the island. The police entered the Island hoping to find the responsible persons on site. No persons were found, but 1,450 plants were located and seized. The estimated street value of these marijuana plants is $1,450,000. Investigation is continuing.

*Update*
UPPER ISLAND LAKE COMMUNITY PITCHES IN TO FIND STOLEN BOAT

The community minded people of Upper Island Lake, in Heyden, have pitched in to find a stolen boat.

Sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday the boat was stolen from the shore on the south east side of Upper Island Lake. Earlier today the news of this theft spread in the Upper Island Lake community. This morning nearby residents went out in their boat to look for the stolen craft. They located the boat, pulled up on shore, at the opposite end of the lake.

They called to owner and he attended the area where the boat was found. So far the only thing wrong with the vessel is that the gas is gone out of the tank.

Special thanks to those community minded residents of Upper Island Lake who took the time to help others in their community. The boat is now safely back in the hands of the lawful owner.

*UPDATE – LOOKING FOR WITNESSES Three Vehicles - Motor Vehicle Collision Highway 17 East

(Sudbury, Ontario) – Members of the Ontario Provincial Police are presently at the scene of a motor vehicle collision that occurred just before 7:00 a.m. this morning on Highway 17 East, near Coniston Hydro Road, City of Greater Sudbury (between Coniston & Wahnapitae).

At this time, it appears that the driver of a westbound Jetta (car) was unable to merge at the end of the passing lane and stopped on the shoulder. Officers are looking to speak to the driver of a dark coloured extended cab pick up which was following the Jetta and swerved in front of a Toyota car. As the roads were wet, the rear-end of the Toyota cross into the eastbound lane into the path of a tanker and collided with same. The tanker subsequently struck a westbound pick up.

There were no hazardous materials as the tanker was loaded with dry sandblasting material but diesel did spill onto the highway. The Ministry of Environment is also at the scene.

The driver of the pick up, Gilles Dupuis of Wahnapitae, ON was extricated from his vehicle and taken to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury by ambulance. He sustained serious injuries and remains in stable condition.

Officers would like to speak to the driver of the dark coloured extended cab pick up truck or to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

The highway is anticipated to remain closed until late this afternoon, possible until 4:00 p.m., as we continue to investigate and clean-up the highway. The only detour around the scene is through Highway 537 and Highway 69.

ROAD CLOSURE
Three Vehicles - Motor Vehicle Collision
Highway 17 East

Members of the Ontario Provincial Police are presently at the scene of a motor vehicle collision that occurred just before 7:00 a.m. this morning on Highway 17 East, near Coniston Hydro Road, City of Greater Sudbury (between Coniston & Wahnapitae).

An eastbound tractor trailer unit collided with a westbound car and subsequently struck a westbound pick up. The driver of the pick up had to be extricated from his vehicle and was taken to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury with serious injuries.

The highway will be closed for several hours while officers along with the assistance of an OPP technical traffic collision investigator continue their investigation. The only detour around the scene is through Highway 537 and Highway 69.

ANOTHER STOLEN BOAT IN THE HEYDEN AREA

Sault Ste Marie OPP are investigating yet another stolen boat and motor in the Heyden area.

On Tuesday afternoon the owner left the boat on shore in Upper Island Lake. He returned to the lake yesterday afternoon to find the boat gone. The boat is a 16 foot boat with a 2 hp Nissan outboard engine. So far no one knows if the vessel was floated over to the public launch and removed from there or taken out somewhere else around the lake.

If you know anything about this theft or the other four missing boats from Heyden Lake call Crime Stoppers or the OPP.


SEAT BELTS HELPED TO REDUCE INJURES IN GOULAIS RIVER CRASH

Goulais River, Ont., Two people escaped serious injures and one other was not injured in this morning crash on Hwy 17 in Goulais River.

The investigation has revealed that at about 9:30 a.m. this morning a transport was following a station wagon south on Hwy 17 in Goulais River. The station wagon slowed and the transport started to pass the car. As the transport was coming along side of the vehicle, the driver turned into the side of the transport.

Two occupants in the front seat of the station wagon were taken to Sault Area Hospital by ambulance. A passenger in the back seat of the car was not injured. The two occupants of the transport did not receive any injuries.

The driver of the station wagon, forty eight year old Stephan WHITTALL, and the front seat passenger, fifty one year old Jill WHITTALL both of Batchawana were treated and released from Sault Area Hospital. They suffered sore necks, backs and chests. Investigators at the scene credit the use of seat belts from preventing any further serious injuries to the two.

Both drivers have been charged with offences under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. Stephan WHITTALL has been charged with Failing to Drive in Marked Lane. The driver of the transport, forty four year old George HOCKLEY of Brantford, Ontario has been charged with Unsafe Lane Change. The highway was close until about 11:30 a.m. to allow for the investigation to take place.