Thursday, May 1, 2003

POLICE REMINDER
The Traffic Services Section of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service wishes to remind motorists to stop for school buses that have their emergency red lights flashing.

Sergeant J. Egan of the Traffic Section advises, "In the past two weeks the police service has received several complaints that vehicles are coming very close to going through school bus flashing lights."

The fine for failing to stop for a school bus with its overhead red signal lights flashing is $405.00 plus a victim surcharge of $95.00. With springtime activities on the mind of motorists, and the children riding the buses, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to remind drivers to use extra care and caution when approaching stopped school buses. A little extra attention can go a long way to make our community safer for everyone!


DOMESTIC DISPUTE
Yesterday, the accused, a 32-year-old male from Dundas St. was at an apartment on Old Garden River Road where a domestic argument took place. The argument escalated to an assault when the accused allegedly slammed the victim, a 27-year-old female to the ground.

The assault continued when the male threw two beer bottles at her and spit on her. The female received a cut to her mouth area and a bruised shoulder. Police were called and officers, at 7:10 am, arrested and charged the male with Assault, two counts of Assault with a Weapon and Breach of Probation. The accused was on conditions at the time not to molest, harass, and annoy the victim. He will appear in bail court today.


DOMESTIC DISPUTE
Today at shortly after midnight, patrol officers went to the rear parking lot of the Government Building at 22 Bay Street for a domestic dispute.

Officers found that a 46-year-old male from Pontiac Street and a 42-year-old female from Cambridge Place had become upset with each other and a domestic dispute occurred.

During this dispute the male kicked the female in the stomach, while the female was striking at him with a piece of clothing and repeatedly shoving him.

At 12:25 am, officers arrested and charged the male with Assault. He will appear in court on June 9th.

At 12:35 am, police also arrested and charged the female with Assault. She will appear in court on June 2nd.


BREAK & ENTER ATTEMPT
This morning at 2:01 am, patrol officers were called to a residence on Toronto Street where an adult female was awaken by the noise of a person breaking into her house.

Thieves appeared to have entered the home through the back door and were scared off by the resident. The suspect or suspects left the home running out the front door. A police search of the area was unsuccessful in locating the thief or thieves.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers.


MULTIPLE CHARGES LAID
Early today, at 2:40 am, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service received a complaint from a motorist that a red 1997 Pathfinder was driving erratically on Queen Street near Churchill Blvd.

Patrol officers went to the area and stopped this vehicle on Bennett Blvd. near Heath Road. Officers observed three young males in the vehicle and spoke to the driver.

The driver identified himself as Curtis Erb, age 18 of 569 Queen Street West. Police officers detected an odour of an alcoholic beverage on his breath while they were speaking with him.

Erb was asked to provide a breath sample into a roadside screening device and his breath sample registered a fail. Erb was arrested and charged with Driving over .08, along with two counts of Breach of Recognizance.

A police records check revealed that Erb was on release conditions not to associate with a passenger in the Pathfinder and to obey a curfew of 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.

The rear seat passenger, Brent Garson, age 20 of 17 Allen Street initially obstructed the police officers by identifying himself as Brent Wilson. Police asked him to get out of the vehicle when they learned that he was lying about his identity.

The front seat passenger, Jody Swanson, age 18 also of 17 Allen Street and Erb were on release conditions not to associate or communicate with Garson.

Officers arrested and charged Swanson with Breach of Recognizance. When Officers were dealing with Garson outside of the vehicle, he actively resisted the officers by entering the Pathfinder and removing the keys from the ignition.

Garson refused to exit the vehicle when ordered by police who were affecting his arrest. Repeated requests for Garson to get out of the vehicle were unsuccessful and a physical struggle ensued between the arresting officers and Garson as he resisted arrest through the passenger door opening of the Pathfinder.

Garson was subsequently Tasered and removed from the vehicle without further incident. He was charged with two counts of Resist/Obstruct Peace Officer, along with Breach of Probation. All three individuals will appear in bail court today.