Friday, December 8, 2006

City Police were busy in the last 24hrs responding to a number of calls including 18 motor vehicle collisions.

Impaired Driving

47-year-old Daryle Hayes of 35 Borron Avenue was arrested just before 2am this morning and charged with 1 count of impaired driving and 1 count of consume over the legal limit. It is alleged that the accused was driving a vehicle on Borron Avenue and that officers observed the vehicle swerving and striking a trailer while attempting to park. Officers arrested and charged the male as he exited the vehicle. The accused will appear in court on January 15th.

Fraudulently Obtaining Lodging

On October 31, 2006 45-year-old Gordon Petts of 470 Charles Street attended at the Adams Motel for a nights lodging and then left later the next morning without making any attempt to pay. Just after 10pm yesterday evening City Police had occasion to speak with Mr. Petts and subsequently arrested and charged him with 1 count of fraudulently obtaining lodging. He is to appear in court on the 15th of January.

Arrested on an Outstanding Warrant

Yesterday evening just before 11pm City Police stopped a vehicle on Second Line West and arrested the passenger 19-year-old Norman James Lund of 10 Donna Drive on an outstanding warrant for operating a vehicle while disqualified. The accused was also found to be in possession of a sawed off shotgun which had previously been reported stolen at a break and enter. The accused has been charged with 1 count of careless use or storage of a firearm, 1 count of unauthorized possession of a weapon, 1 count of concealing a weapon, 1 count of possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, 1 count of possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm with ammunition, 1 count of possession weapon obtained by crime, 1 count of possession of weapon for the purpose of trafficking, 1 count of altering, defacing or removing serial number of firearm, 1 count of operate motor vehicle while disqualified and 1 count of fail to appear in court. The accused will be appearing in court this morning.

SSM’s Neighbourhood Watch Program Re-established

Sault Ste Marie’s Neighbourhood Watch Program was first established in 1981.The program was initiated to encourage homeowners to work through mutual aid neighbours watching out for neighbours. This program is run by the community for the community.

In 2006 to date, the community of Sault Ste Marie has experienced an increase in property related crimes throughout the city. Of particular note are break and enters to both residential and commercial properties.

Break and enters are one of the most prevalent crimes facing our Police Service. It is one crime however that can be effectively reduced by citizens working together and with police in the reporting of suspicious activity and crimes within their neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Watch programs are most certainly an effective tool in targeting and combating criminal activity. Citizens know their own neighbourhoods. They know what is out of place or what activities appear suspicious. Reporting this activity to police and looking out for their neighbours will have a positive impact in the prevention of crime.

In October 2006, a new Neighbourhood Watch Program was re-established and the program, which is volunteer based, held it’s first meeting and selected a Board of Directors. The incoming Board of Directors are Chairperson- Sonny Spina, Vice Chairperson- Sandra Turco, Treasurer -Angela Koppens, Secretary- Carolyn Armstrong and Public Relations coordinator- Lou Turco. The Police Liaison Officer for the program is Constable Louise Oliver.

The Neighbourhood Watch Program is currently recruiting volunteers to act as ward leaders for Wards 1 through 6. A Ward leader is a member of the Board of Directors for the Neighbourhood Watch Program in the City of Sault Ste Marie. The Ward Leader maintains contact between the persons who live in the ward and the Neighbourhood Watch Program. Requirements for these positions include: must be 18 years of age or over, a resident of Sault Ste Marie, possess a clean criminal records check and has a keen interest in preventing crime. Interested persons should contact the Neighbourhood Watch Program at 949-6300, ext. 363 and leave a message. The next meeting will be held on December 12th at 7:00pm at the Police Services Building. If you have any questions about the program you can contact Cst. Louise Oliver at 949-6300, ext 201.