Friday, April 11, 2003

DRUG BUST
Yesterday, members of Joint Forces Drug Unit executed a search warrant under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act for cannabis marijuana at a residence on Albert Street West.

At 12:00 pm officers gained entry into the residence and located two individuals, John Pilar, age 21 of 555 Albert St. West #203 and Samantha Lepine, age 18 of the same address.

At 12:05 pm officers placed both Lepine and Pilar under arrest for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (cannabis marijuana). Pilar and Lepine were both cooperative with the police. Pilar openly indicated where drugs could be found in within the residence.

A thorough search of the residence produced the seizure of 74 grams of marijuana, 0.5 grams of cannabis resin, a spliff and $395.00 in Canadian currency.

Numerous items of paraphernalia regarding drug consumption, along with scales and contact numbers with a debt list were also located as a result of the search. Both accused have been charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Controlled Drug and Possession of Property obtained by Crime. They will appear in court on May 12th.


ACCUSED SHOPLIFTER
Yesterday at approximately 11:45 am the accused, a 16-year-old male from Portage Lane entered Zellers, Station Mall and went to the toy department. The accused removed a box containing a Digimon D-Tector from the shelf and walked over to the sports department where he was observed removing the contents from the box and concealing them in his jacket.

The accused exited Zellers via the ACR exit without stopping to pay for the item. The accused was approached by Zeller's security and was in the process of being arrested when he shook loose from the security officer's grip and ran northbound towards Bay Street. Security Officers chased the accused and caught up to him at a fence south of Bay Street.

The accused again escaped the custody of the security officer by removing his jacket and having his shirt torn from his body as he fled. The accused also threw the toy on Bay Street then picked it up and continued running northbound. The accused was later observed by the security officer to be entering the Station Tower, 420 Bay Street.

City police officers arrived and at 3:17 pm the accused was arrested and charged with Theft under $5,000.00 and Escaping Lawful custody. The youth readily admitted to stealing the game and still had it in his possession.

The other piece of the toy was in his coat pocket, which he had left behind when he was escaping from security. The accused has been banned from the Station Mall property and any Zellers store in Ontario for a period of two years and he will appear in court in mid May to answer to his criminal charges.


SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE
On April 1, while at a residence on Goulais Avenue, the accused, Thomas McEwan, age 65 of 540 Goulais Avenue, allegedly sexually assaulted an 18-year-old female by grabbing her breast. The accused also held the victim's face and attempted to forcefully kiss her. The victim, who was known to the accused, refused the accused's advances and left the residence.

The victim complained of soreness to her breast area but was not otherwise injured in the incident. Police were contacted and yesterday at 10:37 am, detectives arrested and charged the accused with Sexual Assault. He will appear in court on May 26th.


ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT
Yesterday at approximately 9:20 pm, the accused, Gloria Martin, age 46 of 411 Queen Street West, #103 was arrested for allegedly assaulting an adult female victim, who was known to her, by punching her in the face.

The assault occurred in the parking lot of the building at 441 Queen Street West. The assault was the result of the escalation of an argument the accused and victim had over a driving complaint that occurred in the parking lot.

Police Officers went to Martin's residence and arrested and charged her with Assault. She will appear in court on May 12th.


BREAK & ENTERS
Police officers were called to two apartments in the past 24 hours for break and enters. At 8:40 pm last night police were advised of a break-in to an apartment on Salisbury Avenue and at 2:40 this morning, police were called to another apartment on Albert Street East where thieves had broken the front door and stolen some electronics equipment.

Both occurrences are currently under investigation and anyone with information on these incidents are asked to contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers.