Wednesday, January 14, 2004

TWO IN CUSTODY AFTER BREAK IN AND PURSUIT

Echo Bay, Ont.,

Two Sault Ste Marie men are in custody after they broke into an Echo Bay business and failed to stop for police.

At about 1:30 a.m. this morning officers from the Sault Ste Marie detachment arrived at the Echo Bay business to find the front door smashed and the interior of the store ransacked.

OPP officers quickly located a pick up truck on Hwy 17, near the east city limits, that matched the description of a vehicle that was seen leaving the scene. Officers attempted to pull the truck over but the driver would not stop for the cruiser.

The vehicle turned off Hwy 17 and went through the Batchawana First Nation Territory. As the pursuit continued into the city, OPP officers requested the assistance of the Sault Ste Marie City Police.

The vehicle left the Batchawana First Nation Territory and headed west on McNabb Street where speeds reached about 120 km/h. The truck vehicle turned off McNabb near Lake Street and then onto another side road. At this time the vehicle went into a snow bank. Both occupants of the truck fled on foot but were captured by police a very short time later. A search of the vehicle was done and officers located a significant quantity of
cigarettes in the truck.

Two brothers from Sault Ste Marie, are in police custody and will appear in bail court this afternoon. Fifty two year old James Marini and thirty nine year old Richard Marini of Sault Ste Marie are in custody.

They are facing charges of Break and Enter, Possession of Stolen Property, Dangerous Driving, Fail to Stop for Police, and Breach of Probation

The investigation is still ongoing from last night.