Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Explosion on Queen St.

Yesterday afternoon just before 2 pm staff from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, Fire Services and Ambulance Services attended at Fochs Cleaners on Queen Street East after reports were received of an explosion. Three staff members were injured with two of them being taken to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The area was closed off to traffic for a period of time. Investigators from the Investigation Services Section of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are continuing their investigation and are working jointly with the Ministry of Labour is now involved and is the lead agency on the investigation.

Two Males Fighting Downtown

Yesterday afternoon just before 3 pm City Police attended in the downtown area for a disturbance involving persons fighting. Attending officers attempted to break up the fight between two males and it is alleged that a 34-year old male attempted to punch one of the officers. The accused was subsequently pepper sprayed. The accused continued to resist arrest while the officers were handcuffing him. The accused was also on probation with conditions to keep the peace and be good. 34-year old Brian Marion of no fixed address has been charged with one count of assault peace officer, one count of resist arrest and one count of breach of probation. He will appear in bail court this morning.

Drug Bust in the West End

Yesterday afternoon officer from the Joint Forces Drug Unit, which consists of members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Section, the RCMP and the O.P.P North East Region, executed a search warrant at a west end residence. Members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Street Team and the Emergency Service Unit also assisted the Joint Forces Drug Unit. Officers located 23 marihuana plants, 3.5 grams of cannabis resin and 7 grams marihuana as well as various equipment that assisted in the growing of the plants. The estimated street value of the narcotics seized is $22,210. 41-year old Ronald Randy Lapossie of 363 Goulais Avenue has been charged with one count of production of a controlled drug or substance and one count of possession of a controlled drug or substance. He will appear in court on November 20th.

Break & Enters

1) City Police received one report of a break and enter yesterday. Sometime between 4:30 pm on the 5th of October and 7 am on the 10th of October a construction trailer belonging to Pioneer Construction was entered. It does not appear that anything was taken during the break and enter.

2) Sometime between October 6th at 5 pm and 8 am on the 10th of October thieves attended at Action Auto Parts on Third Line West and stole 4 tires with rims.

3) A black double axle utility trailer was taken sometime overnight from Turner Avenue. The trailer is value at approximately $1800.

Theft in a Grocery Store

City Police received a report of a theft of a wallet from a purse. The victim reported that they had been shopping at a grocery store yesterday afternoon and that their wallet had been removed from their purse, which was in the shopping cart. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to remind shoppers to never leave your purse or wallet unattended at any time. It just takes seconds for a thief to remove your wallet and for your to become a victim.

Correction to Motor Vehcile Collision #1 on Yesterdays news

On the 6th of October at approximately 4:40 pm officers from Traffic Services attended in the 500 block of Great Northern Avenue for a motor vehicle collision that sent 4 people to the hospital. A van operated by a 33-year old female was southbound on Great Northern Road and was stopped for a red light. A vehicle operated by a 77-year old male was traveling southbound on Great Northern Road and collided into the rear of the van. Family members took the driver of the van to the hospital and three passengers in the other vehicle were taken by ambulance to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Both vehicles were severely damaged. The 77-year old male driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario with one count of careless driving.