Friday, February 9, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THE NOVEMBER 13, 2006 MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service are currently investigating allegations of voting improprieties during the November 13th, 2006 Municipal Elections.

The investigation began on December 14, 2006 after the allegations were brought to the attention of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and the investigation is ongoing.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has executed a search warrant for election related documents at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall as part of their investigation.

No further details are being released at this time pending the completion of the investigation.


The following persons will appear in bail court this morning:

1) A 16-year old male was arrested yesterday morning just before 12 noon. It is alleged that the youth attended at the Dollarama Store on Northern Avenue and stole a small quantity of merchandise. When a staff member attempted to apprehend the youth it is alleged that the youth shoved the staff member into some shelving. The youth fled the store and was apprehended on Great Northern Road. The youth has been charged with one count of robbery.

2) A 45-year old male was arrested just after 10 pm last night after officers attended at a centrally located residence for a domestic dispute. It is alleged that the accused pushed his common-law wife and pulled her hair. The accused has been charged with one count of assault.

Did You See This Accident? Police Seek Witnesses

Yesterday afternoon around 1:30 pm officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service along with personnel from Sault Fire Services attended at the scene of a two vehicle collision on Trunk Road near the cross road over to Frontenac Street by the City’s eastern limits. The collision involved a City Transit bus and a car. There was one passenger on the bus. The passenger and the 46-year old male bus driver were not injured. The 50-year old male driver of the car was taken by ambulance to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of major injuries. Officers from Traffic Services are continuing their investigation into the collision and are asking any witnesses to contact Traffic Services at 949-6300 extension 383 or 348. The investigation is still ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

Armed Robbery at Algoma Auto Sales

Just after 8 pm last evening a lone male entered Algoma Auto Sales on Great Northern Road and robbed the store of an undisclosed amount of money. A lone male believed to be in his late teens, entered the store, produced a handgun and demanded the money. The employee was not harmed in the incident. The suspect fled on foot headed southbound towards McNabb Street. The male is described as being approximately 5’10” with a thin build. He was wearing a black mask, a red sweater, dark pants and also had a dark hood on his head. If you have any information regarding this robbery contact City Police at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 942-7867.

Impaired Driving

Just after 1:15 am this morning officers from Patrol Services arrested 30-year old Dean Matte of 327 Sussex Road and charged him with one count of impaired driving and one count of consume over the legal limit. It is alleged that the accused was operating a vehicle northbound on Farwell Terrace and was observed by officers failing to stop for the stop sign at Wallace Terrace as well as traveling at a high rate of speed. Officers stopped the vehicle and found the driver to be under the influence of alcohol. The accused will appear in court on March 12th.

In the last 24-hour period there have been two reports of break and enters:

1) Sometime between midnight and 6 am on the 8th of February thieves attempted to break into the storage area of the Trading Post on Great Northern Road.

2) Yesterday afternoon a homeowner on Cooper Street reported that the residence has been entered. It is unknown at this time if anything was taken.

Yesterday between 8:30 am and 2:30 am this morning City Police took 19 reports of motor vehicle collisions. Three of these resulted in injuries including the one from Trunk Road. The other two collisions are as follows:

1)Just b efore 8:30 am yesterday morning City Police attended on McNabb Street east of Great Northern Road for a two vehicle collision. A pickup truck operated by a 40-year old female was traveling eastbound on McNabb Street and has slowed down for a vehicle in front of her. A car operated by a 53-year old male struck the rear of the pickup truck. A passenger in the pickup truck was taken by ambulance to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. At the time of the collision winds were high and blowing snow reduced visibility. No charges have been laid at this time. Vehicle damage was light.

2) Just before 7 pm last night officers attended on Second Line East and Peoples Road for a motor vehicle collision involving two cars. A car operated by a 43-year old female was traveling westbound on Second Line East. A car operated by a 61-year old female was traveling eastbound on Second Line West and attempted to turn left onto Peoples Road and collided with the other car. The 43-year old female was taken to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Both cars were severely damaged. The 61-year old female has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario with one count of left turn fail to afford reasonable opportunity to avoid a collision.

Theft of Snowmobile Trailers

On the 8th of February the Sault Trailblazers Snow Mobile Club reported the theft of two snow machine trailers to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. The trailers were last seen on Friday February 2nd at the Trailblazers building on Old Garden River Road. Taken were:

1) A homemade trailer approximately 5’x 8’, grey in colour with a blue fender with plate number V69299.

2) A black trailer approximately 20’ x 8’, with a tandem axle and a mesh tailgate that can be opened or closed, with plate number A4530K. The wheels are also on the outside of the box. The estimated value of this trailer is $5,000.

If you have any information regarding the theft of either of these trailers, contact City Police at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 942-7867 or 1-800-222-TIPS.