(FORT FRANCES, ON) – On 21 January 2021, the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in conjunction with the Fort Frances OPP Crime Unit, North West Region Emergency Response Team and K-9 Unit conducted a search warrant at a Portage Avenue business in Fort Frances.
As a result of the police investigation, officers seized controlled drugs and substances, stolen property and proceeds of crime. Notable seized items included fentanyl, crystal methamphetamine, crack cocaine, hydromorphone and dilaudid with an estimated street value of $100,000. Seized property included Canadian currency, imitation firearms and pellet guns, compound bows and a conducted energy weapon. As part of the investigation, police also recovered stolen property related to multiple thefts previously reported.
Charged is a 30 year-old Fort Frances man, who is already facing multiple charges for a string of break and enters in downtown businesses. The accused is now in custody,and charged with the additional offences of: Five counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking; Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition contrary to Prohibition Order; Two counts of Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court; Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose; Possession of Proceeds or Property Obtained by Crime under $5000; Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
The accused was scheduled to appear in court January 25.
Also accused in the incident is a 28 year old Fort Frances woman. She also remains in custody after being charged with the following offences: Five counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary; Possession of a Prohibited Device or Ammunition; Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose; Possession of Proceeds or Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 – in Canada; Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – outside Canada; Fail to Comply with Probation Order; Failure to Comply with Release Order – other than to attend court. She also appeared in court on January 25.
The OPP are continuing to investigate this incident and other drug related crimes with the Rainy River District. If you have any information about the trafficking of fentanyl or any other illicit drugs in the Rainy River District, call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000. You may also report online at: http://www.p3tips.com/273.
INFANT DROWNING
(PIKANGIKUM FIRST NATION, ON) – On August 23, 2020, members of the Pikangikum Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a possible drowning involving a two-year-old child. The victim was airlifted to Winnipeg Children’s Hospital for further medical attention however due to the serious nature of the injuries the child passed away.
Members of Pikangikum OPP and the North West Region Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. OPP Forensic Identification Services, the North West Region Provincial Liaison Team (PLT) and the Office of the Chief Coroner were also engaged with this investigation.
A 25 year old Pikangikum woman has been charged with: Causing Death by Criminal Negligence; Abandoning Child; Fail To Provide the Necessaries of Life – Child or Spouse.
The accused was released on an undertaking with a scheduled court date of February 24 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pikangikum.
SEXUAL ASSAULT
(ORILLIA, ON) – Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a Manitoulin Island resident following an investigation of an allegation of sexual assault.
In 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received information from an individual who had been the victim of sexual assault in 2019. As a result of the investigation, members of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) have charged a 44 year old Wikwemikong Unceded Territory man, with Sexual Assault, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are urged to call the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers.
Police remind everyone that victims of sexual assault are not alone. If you need support or know of someone who does, there are local resources available to help, such as Ontario Victim Services (OVS) or the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC). You are strongly encouraged to seek help and/or report incidents to police.
The OPP will not comment further on specifics of this matter as that information is before the courts. A publication ban is in place to prevent revealing information pertaining to the victim or their identity.
FRAUD
(DRYDEN, ON) – The Dryden Detachment of the OPP want you to confirm who you’re dealing with before sending any money or sharing personal information over the internet or the telephone.
Most recently, victims have reported to the police that fraudsters have claimed to offer government financial assistance to individuals. The fraudsters insist personal information is needed to receive the benefit payment which includes; personal identification, bank statements and passwords. The fraudsters also request money be sent to a Facebook account in the form of pre-paid credit cards, gifts cards or a photograph of your personal credit card.
Individuals should never respond to these fraudulent communications.
Here are some warning signs:
• Urgency– The fraudsters always makes the request sound very urgent, which may cause the victim to not verify the story.
• Request for Money Transfer– Money is usually requested to be sent by a money transfer company such as Money Gram, Western Union or even through your own bank institution.
• The request of payment using gift cards–The caller will tell the victim to purchase various types of gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Steam, Walmart) and then text them pictures of the card numbers
If you or someone you know suspect that they’ve been a victim of a scam, contact your local police service. For more information please check out https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm.
