Friday, October 27, 2006

Charged with Two Counts of Breach

21-year old Mark Pine of Garden River will appear in bail court this morning. Just after 10 pm last evening City Police attended on Chambers Avenue for a disturbance call. Officers spoke with the accused and a query revealed that the accused was on conditions not to consume alcohol and to keep the peace and be good. It is alleged that the accused had been drinking and he was subsequently charged and arrested with 2 counts of breach of probation.

Youth Charged with Mischief

A 13-year old youth was arrested and charged last night with one count of mischief under $5,000, one count of possession of property obtained by crime and three counts of breach of probation under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. It is alleged that the youth was in possession of a mini bike that had been stolen from Chris Tire and Auto on the Korah Road on the 24th of October. The mini bike had been brand new but is now damaged.

Two Charged with Threatening Death or Bodily Harm

50-year old Collette Guidon of 14 Softwood Drive and 60-year old Roger Guidon of 14 Softwood Drive were both arrested and charged with one count of threatening to cause death or bodily harm yesterday. It is alleged that on the 25th of October both accused persons had a phone conversation with a female known to them and it is alleged that they both threatened to harm the victim. Both accused will appear in court on December 4th.

Uttering a Forged Document, Fraud, and Possession of Property Obtained in a Crime

21-year old Sara Bothwell of 46 Essex Lane was arrested and charged by officers from the Fraud Unit yesterday. It is alleged that between the February 2nd and the 9th of June 2006 the accused stole personal cheques from a person she was employed by as well as signing the signature of the victim. During this time frame it is also alleged that the accused made several transaction on the victims Visa account and also transferred money from his chequing account to pay the Visa account. The accused has been charged with one count of possession of property obtained by crime, two counts of fraud and 18 counts of uttering a forged document. She will appear in court on December 4th.

Theft Under $5000

23-year old Jeffrey Wilson of 3-498 John Street was arrested yesterday afternoon by security staff employed at the Sears Store. It is alleged that the accused left sears without paying for a Dremel multi tool. The accused was apprehended by security and turned over to City Police. During the course of the investigation it was also learned that the accused allegedly stole merchandise from Dollar Rama. The accused has been charged with two counts of theft under $5,000 and will appear in court on December 4th.

Collision with a Train

Officers from Patrol Services are continuing to investigate a collision with a Huron Central Railway train and a van that occurred early this morning just after 12:30 am. The train was westbound on the tracks at Huron Street. The van was northbound on Huron Street and struck the side of the train and left the scene. The conductor received minor injuries when he had to pull up his legs to get out of the way. The van was dark in colour and should have damage to the front end.

The week of October 23rd to 29th is Safe Crossing Week 2006, which was launched by Safe Kids Canada and the Canadian National (CN) Railway. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been working jointly with the Canadian National Railway Police to educate the public on railway safety for the last two years.

Here are some safety tips for motorists:

- Never race a train to the crossing - even in a tie, you lose.
- Do not get trapped on the tracks. Only proceed through a highway/railway crossing if you are sure you can completely clear the crossing without stopping. Remember, the train is three feet wider than the tracks on both sides.
- ALWAYS EXPECT A TRAIN! Trains do not follow set schedules.
- Do not be fooled by the optical illusion - the train you see is closer and faster moving than you think. If you see a train approaching, wait for it to go by before you proceed across the tracks.

Motorists need to be aware that there are a number of charges under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario that apply to railways. The include:

- Careless driving which is a fine of $260 and 6 demerit points.
- Driver of public vehicle or school bus fail to stop at railway crossing carries a fine of $90 and 5 demerit points.
- Drive through, around or under railway barrier carries a fine of $90 and 3 demerit points.
- U-turn on or within 30 metres of a railway crossing carries a fine of $90 and 2 demerit points.

Remember that trains cannot stop quickly even when moving slow. Cross bucks and drop down gates are a railway crossing to help ensure your safety. Obey the rules of the road and arrive home safely.