Friday, June 11, 2010

Callers Posing as Public Health Inspectors:

The Algoma Public Health Unit has notified the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service of an incident in which a person posing as a public health inspector tried to schedule an inspection with a local restaurant, impersonating a public officer. This is a criminal offence and the most recent incident occurred today.

A number of restaurant owners and operators throughout Ontario, including Sault Ste. Marie, have been contacted by phone by individuals impersonating public health inspectors. These individuals identify themselves as “public health officials” working for the local health department. These individuals request to schedule a restaurant inspection and ask detailed personal and business information. In some cases the callers are given a unique code number and telephone number to call the imposters back.

Please be advised that the public health inspectors employed by the Sault Ste. Marie and District Health Unit always carry a picture identification and will produce it upon request. Public health inspectors do not call in advance to make appointments for inspections.

Restaurant owners and operators are reminded to not give out any personal, private, or secure information to anyone without confirming the person’s identity. Restaurant owners and operators are asked to contact the Algoma Health Unit at (705) 541-7347 for more information or to report similar types of incidents, contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Fraud Unit, Detective Alison Rains at (705) 949-6300 Extension 388.

Disqualified Driver Operating a Cell Phone Arrested:

Last evening around 8 pm, patrol officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service observed a GMC Pickup travelling northbound on People’s Road at a high rate of speed and veering from the left lane to the right curb lane. Officers also observed the driver to be on a cell phone. The vehicle was stopped on Peoples Road and at the time they discovered that the driver was a prohibited driver from a previous impaired driving charge. The pickup was also found to be in an unsafe condition as it had the rear suspension hanging down and had a faulty exhaust system. As a result, the driver, 26 year-old Brandon Bennett of 212 Farquhar Street was charged with one count of operate motor vehicle while disqualified under the Criminal Code of Canada, one count of drive using hand-held communication device and one count of operate unsafe vehicle under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. He is to attend in court on the12th of July.

Sault Ste. Marie Police Reminder Regarding Cell Phone Use while Operating a Vehicle:

Under Ontario's new distracted driving law, it illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices. Hands-free use of these devices is permitted. The new law also prohibits the viewing of display screens unrelated to driving such as laptop computers or DVD players. Fines of up to $500 can be levied against distracted drivers who text, type, email, dial, or chat using a prohibited handheld device. Studies show that a driver using a cell phone is four times more likely to be in a crash than a driver focused on the road. Other studies show that dialling and texting carries the highest degree of risk of all cell phone-related activities.
Distracted drivers are a safety risk to themselves and others.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is committed to ensuring the safety of all motorists on our roadways and will continue to enforce the new distracting driving laws.


Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Collision:

On the 10th of June at approximately 7:22 pm the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service responded to a collision involving a motor vehicle and a bicycle at the intersection of McNabb Street and Adeline Avenue. It is alleged that a bicyclist travelling westbound on McNabb Street failed to stop for the stop sign at Adeline Avenue and was struck by a Dodge Caravan that was travelling southbound on Adeline Avenue. The bicyclist, 23 year-old Jordon Yesno of 230 St. Andrew’s Terrace, was treated by EMS at the scene for minor injuries and was later charged by police with one count of Disobey stop sign – fail to stop, under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

Bicycle Safety Reminder to Cyclist to Obey Rules of the Road:

Some cyclists assume that traffic laws and rules of the road don’t apply to them; sometimes with tragic results.
Bicycles are required to stop at all red lights, amber lights and stop signs and must signal for turns. Cyclists face the same penalties as motorists under the Highway Traffic Act.


Property Crimes:

Break and Enters:

• An office building in the 400 block of Albert Street East was entered overnight on the 10th of June. The alarm was activated and nothing was reported taken at the time.
• A residence in the 800 block of Fourth Line West was entered sometime between the 8th and 10th of June. Alcohol and prescription drugs were reported stolen.

Thefts:

A vehicle was entered in the 500 block of John Sttreet and one in the parking lot on Bay Street. A Laptop, a digital camera, leather Harley Davidson jacket, an iPod and a wallet were reported stolen.


If you have any information regarding any of these crimes, or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers at 942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477(TIPS), or visit the Crime Stoppers web site at www.saultcrimestoppers.com “