OPP were investigating an alleged bail violation and warrant incident in Atikokan, Ont. on Tuesday when a suspect was reportedly found to be in possession of an identity document that didn’t belong to him, leading to the arrest and charging of two, according to an OPP press release.
The charged individuals were a 29-year-old from Accra, Ghana and a 58-year-old of Atikokan. Both were jointly charged with illegal possession of an identity document, and the 58-year-old was additionally charged with failing to comply with judicial release, with the warrant for their arrest issued in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Under Canadian federal law, it is a criminal offence to be in possession of another person’s government-issued identification without a lawful reason and is punishable by up to five years in prison.
The 29-year-old is scheduled to appear in Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on Aug. 27. The 58-year-old was held in police custody and had a bail hearing yesterday. OPP could not be contacted by time of publication for the results of this hearing.
Offender management and apprehension is an important part of the OPP’s overall crime prevention and community safety strategy. Specialized units like the OPP Bail Support Team (BST), Offender Management and Apprehension Program (OMAP), and the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Team, work with uniformed detachment members to hold repeat offenders and bail violators accountable.
If you are aware of someone at large with warrants or violating conditions of judicial release, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You can also report through Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous by calling 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. If your information leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
