Monday, May 5, 2003

POLICE BICYCLE RODEO
Tomorrow evening, May 6th, 2003, from 5: 00 pm until 8:00 pm the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will be holding a bicycle rodeo at Rome's Independent Grocers.

Staff from the Brain Injury Association will be on site inspecting helmets. If your child is age 9 to 12 and would like to attend, please bring them and their bicycle to the east parking lot area of Rome?s. Entry is free and one luck participant will win a bicycle donated by Rome's.


ACCUSED OF SHOPLIFTING
On May 4th at 2:10 pm Police Officers were called to Rome's Independent Grocers where an adult male had been apprehended by store security for allegedly shoplifting a magazine. Officers arrested and charged Gerry Beaucage, age 46 of 138 East Street with Theft under $ 5,000.00 and Breach of Probation. He will appear in court on June 23rd.


ACCIDENT RESULTS IN MULTIPLE CHARGES
At 9:05 pm, last night, Patrol Officers were called to a single motor vehicle collision on Goulias Avenue near Anich Road.

Officers at the scene found that a 1989 Ford pick-up truck being driven southbound on Goulias Avenue by Gerald Lindsay, age 17 of 229 Goulais Avenue, failed to negotiate a curve in the road, lost control and struck a tree in the east ditch area.

The truck subsequently caught fire and the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Service was required to extinguish it.

Police Officers charged Lindsey with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act and Operating a Motor Vehicle with No Insurance under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, which carries a minimum $5,000.00 fine if convicted. No one was injured in the collision, but the truck was demolished.


DOMESTIC ASSAULT
At approximately 11:00 pm last evening, patrol officers were called to a home on Wilding Avenue where a 44-year-old male assaulted his 45-year-old wife.

The female was doing dishes in the kitchen when the male became upset with her. The accused pushed her from behind, and then slapped her in the head. When she turned around, she was again pushed.

In defense of herself the female picked up a knife and a struggle ensued for it. No one was injured by the knife but the female received swollen wrists and bruised elbows during the struggle.

Officers noted the kitchen area where this incident took place to be in a shambles from the fight. At 11:20 pm, patrol officers arrested and charged the male with Assault. He will appear in court on June 9th.


CHARGED WITH INTOXICATION
This morning at approximately 12:15, patrol officers arrested the accused, Edward Petts, age 19 of 69 Adrian Drive, on warrants for failing to appear in court on the March 3. The accused also was subsequently charged with being intoxicated in a public place as he was at an apartment complex on Trunk Road.

Patrol officers noted Petts to be extremely unsteady on his feet, have a strong scent of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, saliva build up in corners of mouth, slurred speech and be extremely confrontational. Further, officers witnessed the accused violently banging his head into the cage in the cruiser as he was being driven to the station. Petts will appear in bail court today.


SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGE
From February 2003 to May 1, the accused, a 31-year-old male from Douglas Street, allegedly would enter the bedroom of a 13-year-old female who is the daughter of his common-in-law wife.

He would lie down beside the female and put his hand down her pajama pants and touch the groin of the victim. The victim objected to this but the accused continued. These assaults occurred on almost a daily basis in the victim's bedroom or on the living room sofa.

On May 4, the victim disclosed these incidents and police officers from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service were notified and an investigation was commenced. At 12:28 this morning, detectives from the Investigation Services Section located the male in a bar in the city's west end and arrested and charged the accused with Sexual Interference. He will appear in bail court today.


MAN ASSAULTS WOMAN
Today, in the early morning hours, a 24-year-old female came home from a visit at the hospital. She was met by her common law boyfriend at their residence on Huron Street where he assaulted her by punching her repeatedly in the head. After the assault he left the residence.

The victim's injuries were of a minor nature. Police were contacted and located the 34-year-old accused walking east on Cathcart Street. At 3:09 am this morning police arrested and charged the male with Assault. He will appear in bail court today.


BREAK & ENTERS
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has been busy investigating break and enters in the past 24 hours. At 10:28 am yesterday, a resident of an apartment in the 500 block of Goulias Avenue advised police that thieves had attempted to break into his apartment but were unsuccessful.

At 10:54 am yesterday, police were advised that thieves entered the Public Library on 496 Second Line West through a basement window.

At 1:57 pm a resident in the 100 block of Wellington Street East told Police that her shed had been entered and items removed.

At 6:26 am this morning, IDA Merrett's Pharmacy reported a break-in to the store at 314 Wellington Street West. These break-ins are currently under investigation and anyone with information about them is asked to call the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 949-6300 or Crime Stoppers.

The general public is reminded to keep an eye out for suspicious persons in their areas and our requested to contact the police with this information. A little extra care goes along way to reducing crime!