Thursday, June 26, 2003

ARRESTED FOR SHOPLIFTING
In the early evening yesterday, Patrick Shawana, age 25 of 240 Albert Street West allegedly stole bookends from Hallmark Stores, a candle holder and a movie from Decor Art, and a model race car from San Francisco stores. Shawana fled the Cambrian Mall, but was spotted a short while later by City Police.

After a brief chase on bicycle, then foot, the accused dumped all the items behind a residence on London Street. At 9:20 pm Police Officers in the 0 to 100 block of Wellington Street West, arrested and charged the accused with three counts of Theft under $5,000.00. He will appear in court on July 18th.


CRIME SPREE
Yesterday at 5:35 a.m., Michael Robert Leblanc, age 32 of 319 Albert Street West allegedly committed taxi fraud by getting in a cab and taking it from the Shell Gas Station, Great Northern Road to the Best Western, 229 Great Northern Road and leaving without paying.

Once at the hotel he commited break and enter to a room by crawling in a window. Earlier in the evening, Leblanc had attempted to rent this room but was unsuccessful and left the hotel with an outstanding bill for the internet services he used.

Yesterday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., Leblanc went to at 332 Bay Street where he obtained a room knowing he had no money to pay for it. In addition, he made several phone calls and accumulated a phone bill. The total bill for the Travelodge was over $100.00.

In addition, during the same time period, Leblanc allegedly went to the Hidden Bay Cafe, 332 Bay Street and obtained food knowing he had no ability to pay for it. During this time, Leblanc was bound by a probation order to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

At 9:00 pm at the Travelodge on Bay Street, patrol officers arrested and charged the accused with Break and Enter, two counts of Fraud, Obtaining Transportation by Fraud and 4 counts of Breach of Probation. He will appear in bail court today.


TWO INJURED IN ACCIDENT
At 3:50 pm yesterday afternoon, patrol officers were called to the intersection of McNabb Street and Manitou Drive for a three-vehicle collision. A 1988 Ford truck being driven east on McNabb Street by Steven Blackstock, age 42 of Megginson Drive, attempted to turn left onto Manitou Drive.

The Blackstock truck turned into the path of a westbound car on McNabb Street. The car, a 1994 Ford sedan, was being driven west by Joshua Jordan, age 17 of Frontenac Street when it collided with the truck.

This impact forced the truck into a 1991 Pontiac car that was stopped on Manitou Drive facing south at McNabb Street. The driver of the Pontiac was Shelley Tucket, age 42 of Boundary Road.

Both Joshua Jordan and an 87-year-old passenger in his vehicle, Madeline Jordan, were transported to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.

Blackstock has been charged with Left Turn-fail to afford reasonable opportunity to avoid collision under the Highway Traffic Act. Jordan was charged with G1 licence holder-unaccompanied by qualified licence holder, also under the Highway Traffic Act.


BREAK & ENTERS
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service investigated several break-ins yesterday. At 10:14 am, patrol officers were called to an apartment in the 500 block of Albert Street West where sometime overnight thieves entered and stole a T.V. and V.C.R.

At 10:52 am, the staff at Hole-in-One Driving Range on Black Road called the Police Service to advise that thieves had broken into the establishment.

At 5:17 pm, a homeowner on Avery Road contacted police to advise them that thieves had entered his garage and removed two chainsaws, a 2001 Suzuki dirt bike, a pump, jack and case of oil.

Shortly after 1:00 am this morning, patrol officers were called to an apartment in the 100 block of James Street where thieves had broken in.

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