Arson Investigation Results in Second Arrest and Further Charges:
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, with assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services and the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office, has completed a lengthy investigation into three arson incidents that occurred in Sault Ste. Marie in April and May of 2009. As a result, 46 year-old Grant Morden, of #315-27 Terry Fox Place has been charged with three counts of Arson. Gay Overland, age 53, was arrested and charged back in December 2011 with regards to this investigation. The alleged incidents all relate to local properties that she either owned solely, or jointly with another person, or properties she had personal interest in.
The following are the details for each individual arson occurrence involving the accused Grant Morden:
- On April 12th, 2009, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services attended a house fire at 181 Andrew Street. The house was destroyed by the fire. The total loss from this fire was $40,000.00.
- On April 24th, 2009, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services attended a garage fire at 817 Goulais Avenue. The garage was damaged by fire. The total cost of the damage was $2500.00.
- On May 30th, 2009, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service and Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services attended a house fire at 113 Cathcart Street. The house was destroyed by the fire. The total loss from this fire was in excess of $76,000.00.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court on April 16th.
Male Arrested on Outstanding Warrant:
Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 39 year-old Pascal Houle of 218 Gloucester Street (basement) overnight on an outstanding warrant. He is charged with one count of fail to appear court for allegedly failing to appear on the 15th of August 2011 in relation to a fraud charge. The accused is to appear in bail court this morning.
Impaired Driving Arrest:
Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 62 year-old Robert Pittendreigh of #206-844 Queen Street East on the 5th of March on Queen Street East and charged him with one count of impaired driving and one count of consume over the legal limit. It is alleged that on the 5th of March at approximately 2:30 pm officers received a call regarding an impaired driver on Queen Street East. Officers located the vehicle in a driveway on Queen Street East and found the accused passed out in the driver’s seat in an intoxicated condition. He was subsequently arrested and is to appear n court on the 16th of April.
Female Arrested on Outstanding Warrants:
Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 33 year-old Bobbie Jean Wilson of #1-344 Wellington Street East overnight on outstanding warrants. It is alleged that the accused was wanted for fraud and shoplifting related incidents that occurred at local businesses in August 2011 and January 2012. She was charged with one count of attempt fraud and one count of theft under $5,000 and is to appear in court on the 16th of April.
Female Arrested for Mischief:
Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 59 year-old Consuelo Marshall of #3-1674 Wellington Street East on the 5th of March and charged her with one count of mischief under $5,000.00. It is alleged that on the 5th of March the accused caused damage to an apartment door of a person known to her. The accused is to appear in court on the 16th of April.
Female Arrested for Theft:
Officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 22 year-old Candace Miron of #17-859 Trunk Road last night and charged her with one count of theft under $5,000. It is alleged that she was wanted for theft of lottery tickets from a local business on the 27th of February. She is to appear in court on the 2nd of April.
Requesting the Public’s Assistance with Robbery Investigation:
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance with a robbery investigation. Officers received a robbery complaint from a female around 2:00 am this morning.
The victim reported that she left a local bar on Queen Street West around 11 pm last night and while walking eastbound near the area of Huron Street, she was struck from behind, knocked to the ground and robbed. The victim believed that three males were involved. The suspects advised her they were going to take her money, went through her pockets and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. The victim received non-life threatening injuries as a result. No description is available.
The investigation is ongoing and police are requesting the public’s assistance. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 705-949-6300 or call Crime Stoppers at 942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS); submit an e-tip from the Crime Stoppers web site at www.saultcrimestoppers.com or text keyword SSM with your tip to 274637.
This is the second complaint that officers have received during the first week of March involving a female being robbed while walking alone at night. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service would like to remind the public of some personal security and safety tips to reduce the chances of being a victim of these types of crimes.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is committed to proactively teaching residents how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime though education and awareness. Personal Security involves taking steps to keep yourself safe and protecting yourself from situations that are potentially violent or criminal. Like other methods of crime prevention, personal security involves recognizing, anticipating, and assessing the risk of a crime occurring. In other words, what situations are potentially threatening to you and likely to put you in peril? Once you have identified a risk, you can take steps to remove or reduce it. Being aware and informed is important to preventing crimes from occurring, which is why the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service offers and reminds the public the of the following safety tips.
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and do not place yourself in situations which might jeopardize your safety.
- Travel in well-lit and populated areas.
- Plan your route and avoid short cuts through parks, alley ways, vacant lots or unlit areas, especially at night.
- Avoid walking alone if you can. Especially at night.
- If you must walk alone, get a friend to accompany you. If they can’t, let them know the route you’re taking, when you’re leaving and call when you arrive.
- Don’t carry large sums of money or unnecessary valuables. Use cash alternatives such as debit cards.
- Don’t wear headsets or any device that could compromise your hearing.
- Trust your intuition – if something doesn’t feel right, it likely isn’t.
- Call police immediately if you see anyone or anything suspicious.
- If you feel you are being followed, or may be accosted, run to a safe place, such as a store, coffee shop or gas station and report it to police.
- If someone grabs your purse, do not resist.