Monday, July 25, 2005

Bank Skimming Machines

On the weekend the SSM Police received information that bank machine skimmers were at 2 ATM machines at 2 Royal Bank locations. Officers seized a skimming machine from the Wellington Street West Branch on Saturday afternoon after receiving a call. Yesterday morning a call was received regarding a skimming machine at the Main Branch on Queen Street East but the machine was gone by the time officers arrived.

Skimming occurs when equipment is attached to a machine to capture the account information encoded in the black magnetic strip on the rear of the bankcard. A remote camera is hidden so that the PIN number can be captured and this information can be used to duplicate your card and access your account.

Investigation Into Fight Continues

Just before 3 am this morning City Police were responded down to a fight call involved a number of males in the area of Hudson Street and Albert Street West. One male victim has been taken to the Sault Area Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Patrol Officers arrested 3 males and the accused people have all been taken into custody. Officers from Investigation Services were called out and are continuing their investigation into this matter. Further details are expected to be released later today pending the outcome of the investigation.

Missing Person Found

On Friday evening at 6 pm City Police located missing person Patricia Cormier at the Station Mall in good health. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to thank the media for getting the information out to the public and a thank you to the public who called in information.

6 people will be appearing in bail court this morning:

1)21-year old Jeanna Simmons of 127 Gore Street was arrested on July 23rd just after 10 pm during a routine traffic stop. The accused was on release conditions to notify a change of address and to live with a surety at the address on the release order. It is alleged that the accused failed to notify her change of address and was not living at her old address with her surety. She has been charged with 2 counts of breach of a release order.

2)34-year old Edwin Twalbu of 8-181 James Street was arrested at 6 am on July 24th and charged with one count of assault, one count of threatening to cause to death or bodily harm and one count of breach of a release document. It is alleged that the accused attended at a downtown apartment to visit a female friend and then became upset with the friend. The accused threatened to harm the female by saying he would hit her with a hammer. The accused assaulted the victim by pushing past her and biting her in the arm. When the accused was arrested it was learned he was on a release document to notify his change of address and failed to do so.

3)56-year old Gordon King of 202-760 Great Northern Road was arrested on July 23rd when he failed to keep curfew hours that were part of a release document. It is alleged that the accused was to be in his residence by 8 pm but was found by officers out and about after 11 pm. He has been charged with one count of breach of a release order.

4)A 36-year old male was arrested and charged with one count of assault and one count of breach of probation on July 24th. It is alleged that the accused assaulted his wife by grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a kitchen cabinet while in their west end home. At the time the accused was on probation with terms to keep the peace and be good.

5)A 34-year old male was arrested on July 23rd after it is alleged that he assaulted his girlfriend while at her east end residence. It is alleged that the accused slapped the victim in the face. It is also alleged that the male damaged some of the victim’s property including a kitchen table, a stereo and a VCR. The male has been charged with one count of assault and one count of mischief under $5,000.

6)A 25-year old male was arrested on July 24th around 10:30 pm. It is alleged that the accused was at an address of his ex-girlfriends while on release documents stating that the accused was not to be at the females address. The male has been charged with one count of breach of a release document.

Female Charged with Assault

A 34-year old female was arrested on Friday afternoon can charged with 2 counts of assault. It is alleged during the month on July, on 2 occasions, the accused assaulted her teenage daughter. It is alleged that on one occasion the accused threw a fork at the victim, striking her in the back. On the second occasion it is alleged that the victim was punching in the back by the accused. The victim did not require medical treatment. The name of the accused is not being released, as it would identify the victim. The accused will appear in court on August 29th.

Theft Charges Laid Against Female

28-year old Daniel Miller of 20-864 Queen Street East was arrested yesterday afternoon after it is alleged the accused attempted to steal clothing from the Zellers Store in the Station Mall. The accused was apprehended by store security and turned over to City Police. The value of the clothing was just over $50. The accused was on probation at the time of the offence with terms to keep the peace and be good. The accused has been charged with one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of breach of probation and will appear in court on August 29th.

Male Stopped for Speeding and Showed Signs of Impairment

27-year old Colin McGonegal of 34 St. Georges Avenue East will appear in court on August 29th after being arrested on July 24th just before 3 am. It is alleged that the accused was operating a pickup truck on Queen Street East in the main downtown core in an erratic manner. Officers stopped the accused for speeding and when spoken to it is alleged that the accused showed signs of impairment. The accused was also on probation with terms to keep the peace and be good. The accused has been charged with one count of consume over the legal limit and one count of breach of probation and will appear in court on August 29th.

Dowtown Noise Complaints Dealt with

Over the weekend City Police were actively enforcing violations in the downtown area. Police have received a number of complaints regarding noise and speeding in the main downtown core. Between July 21st and July 24th City Police laid a total of 66 charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario as well as the City Bylaw regarding excessive noise. 22 persons were charged with having improper mufflers, 4 persons were charged with excessive noise mufflers and stereos, 29 drivers were charged with speeding, one unsafe vehicle was removed from the road, and 2 12-hour suspensions in relation to drinking related offences were issued. In one incident one driver was clocked at driving 112 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to advise the public that officers will continue to target this problem area will be enforcing the Highway Traffic Act and the City Bylaw regarding speeding and noise complaints.