Police have arrested Michael Rivers in relation to theft incidents that occurred on Sept. 24 and Oct. 2.
A news release issued today by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service alleges that the 27-year-old stole items from a Gore Street business and later took a watch from a Bay Street business.
Police say that Rivers was found in possession of stolen property and suspected fentanyl at the time of his arrest on Oct. 3.
Full text of the news release follows:
On Oct. 3, 2021 officers with Patrol Services charged 27-year-old Michael Rivers with robbery.
On Sept. 24, 2021 around 9:30 a.m., [it is alleged that] the accused attended a business in the 100 block of Gore Street, selected approximately $62 worth of items and left without attempting to pay for them. Employees attempted to stop the accused but he pushed them as he fled the area on foot. Officers attended but were unable to locate the accused. A warrant was requested and issued for his arrest regarding this incident.
On Oct. 2, 2021, [it is alleged that] the accused attended a business in the 200 block of Bay Street, tried on a watch worth approximately $850 and fled without attempting to pay for it.
On Oct. 3, 2021, officers responded to a call of a suspicious person in the 300 block of Marretta Street. Upon arrival, officers located the accused in the backyard of a residence. Upon speaking with the accused, he identified himself to officers. Officers discovered he was wanted for robbery and he was arrested.
A subsequent search of the accused found him to be in possession of the watch reported stolen on Oct. 2, 2021 and a quantity of a substance believed to be fentanyl.
He is charged with robbery, failing to comply with an undertaking, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of a controlled substance.
He was held for bail court and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 4, 2021.