Tuesday, November 25, 2003

MULTIPLE SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES LAID
A Goulais River man has been charged with numerous sexual assault complaints. Robert George Lemieux, age 63, has been charged with eleven counts of indecent assault and six counts of Gross Indecency contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Earlier this year Winnipeg Police identified victims of the sexual assault. Further investigation by the Child Abuse Unit revealed that between 1969 and 1974 several teen and pre-teen males were sexually assaulted. The suspect came into contact with the victims as a result of his employment on several commercial boats in the Winnipeg area.

Their investigation indicated the suspect now lived in Goulais River. Detectives from the Winnipeg Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit have been in Sault Ste. Marie for the past two days and are being assisted by the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Crime Unit to follow up on the investigation.

Lemieux has been released from custody with conditions and will appear in Winnipeg court on December 29, 2003 to answer to the charges


AFTERNOON COLLISION CAUSES 12 HOUR TRAFFIC DETOUR
Harmony Beach, Ont.,

An afternoon collision involving a tractor trailer on Hwy 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie yesterday forced the O.P.P. to detour all traffic through Harmony Beach

At about 2:00 p.m. yesterday, a tractor trailer was southbound on Hwy 17 when the driver lost control in the snow and slush. The rig slid across the highway and into the guide rails.

The truck was blocking most of the highway and officers from the Sault Ste. Marie O.P.P. detachment were forced to re route traffic through the hamlet of Harmony Beach for about twelve hours.

The truck was loaded with 17 large industrial size tires used for large construction equipment. The tires had to be unloaded before the truck could be removed. At about 1:30 this morning the highway was finally cleared re-opened to traffic.

Officers at the scene advise that a small fuel leak did not cause any significant environmental damage. No one was injured in this collision and no charges have been laid.


COLLISION SENDS ONE TO HOSPITAL
Pancake Bay, Ont.,

A collision on Highway 17 just north of Pancake Bay Provincial Park sent a Sudbury area man to Sault and Area Hospital yesterday.

At about 1:00 p.m. a man was northbound on Hwy 17 and was attempting to pass other traffic. He lost control of the vehicle in the snow and slush and slid into the ditch. The vehicle rolled over.

Fifty-one year old David Hartling, of the Sudbury area, was taken to Sault and Area Hospital by ambulance where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. No charges were laid in this collision.

With more snow and blowing snow forecasted for this area today, Sault Ste Marie OPP are again encouraging motorist to slow down when the weather is less than ideal. Excessive speed for the weather condition is a major cause of collisions in the winter.


HIGHWAY 556 STILL CLOSED
Searchmont

Please be advised that Highway 556 remains closed from a point 12kms east of the Garden River Bridge to the junction with highway 129. The MTO is repairing the highway but it is unknown how long it will be closed.