Police briefs
Police are asking residents to be vigilant, as several scams have been circulating throughout the region. According to the OPP’ Mike Golding, the CRA scam has been a prevalent scam recently. The scammer calls, often with a legitimate looking caller ID, claiming that money is owed to the Canada Revenue Agency. To ensure the call is legitimate, you can check the status of your government accounts at canada.ca/my-cra-account or call 1-888-863-8657 to speak to a real CRA agent.
Any call from a bank should be treated as suspicious, said Golding. Banks don’t contact clients by phone, as a rule. If the person on the other side is asking you to verify personal details, such as PIN numbers, assume the call is a scam.
A Canada Post scam has also been reported. It’s considered a phishing email, said Golding. Canada Post does not send unsolicited emails requesting personal information such as credit card numbers, account or invoice numbers, addresses or passwords. In one recent scam “Canada Post” sends out a text message about a delivery being shipped, with a tracking link attached. Clicking the link lets the viewer know that outstanding shipping fees are still owed on the package, leading to another link to fill in contact information, payment information and a security question.
“You click the link and fill in the information and they got you!” said Golding.
BREAK AND ENTER
(FORT FRANCES, ON) – On Saturday June 12, 2021 the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Rainy River District Detachment received a report of broken glass outside a commercial business on the 200 Block of Scott Street in the Town of Fort Frances. Officers contacted the business owner who attended the scene and confirmed a break and enter had occurred. Officer canvassed the area and as a result, one individual was arrested.
A 26-year old man with no fixed address has been charged with break and enter with intent to commit indictable offence.
The accused was held in custody after a Bail Hearing on Sunday June 13, 2021 and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Fort Frances on June 14, 2021.
The OPP would like to thank the public for assisting in the investigation.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have information regarding this occurrence to 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), or submit a tip online at www.crimestoppersquinte.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
COLLISIONS
(KENORA, ON) – Members of the Kenora Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently investigating two motor vehicle collisions (MVC) over the weekend in the Kenora area. Both resulted in people being taken to hospital with serious injuries.
At 12:30 a.m. on Saturday June 12, 2021 the OPP were dispatched to an MVC on Highway 525. The Police were advised that a motor vehicle had struck a rock cut where the driver was ejected and the vehicle is now on fire. OPP attended immediately with ambulance and fire. The driver was transported to hospital by ambulance with life threatening injuries.
The second Motor Vehicle Collision occurred at 9:54 p.m. on Saturday June 12, 2021. Police were dispatched to a Collision that occurred in the 1100 block of Ninth Street North in the City of Kenora. The OPP was advised of a motorcycle that struck a pick-up truck. The Police, Kenora Emergency Medical Services and Kenora Fire all attended. The driver was transported to hospital by ambulance with life threatening injuries.
The OPP Technical Collision Investigation members attended both scenes to assist with the investigations that are on-going.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
IMPAIRED DRIVERS
(KENORA, ON) Members of the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested and charged two people with Impaired Driving offences over the weekend.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on June 6, 2021, Police conducted a R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) check on Ninth Street North in Kenora. Police spoke with the driver of a vehicle and determined the driver had been consuming alcohol. The accused was arrested at the scene and transported for further tests. As a result of this investigation, 29 year old Rat Portage First Nation Territory man has been charged with Operation While Impaired-Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) and Operation While Impaired-Alcohol and Drugs.
At 12:17 a.m. on June 4, 2021, Police were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 71. Upon speaking to the driver, Police determined the driver had consumed alcohol. As a result of this investigation, 32 year old woman from Kananaskis, Alta. has been charged with: Operation While Impaired-Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus).
Motorists who drive impaired by alcohol or drugs are subject to drivers licence suspensions, fines, vehicle impoundments, criminal records and increased insurance costs. Drivers 21 years of age or younger have a Zero blood alcohol rule while driving. Please drive responsibly, don’t drink and drive.
The OPP is committed to safety for all who utilize Ontario’s roadways. Members of the public are urged to report Impaired Driving by calling 911 in emergency situations or for non-emergent call 1-888-310-1122.
EXTREME FOREST FIRE RISK
Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind the public to use caution when performing any outdoor burning. In order to dispose of yard waste and woody debris, we encourage you to use methods such as composting or landfill. Follow Ontario’s outdoor burning regulations. Fires are to be ignited no sooner than 2 hours before sunset and extinguished no later than 2 hours after sunrise.
Always have tools/water adequate to contain the fire at the site. Know the rules for safe outdoor burning. To consult the full set of outdoor burning regulations under Ontario’s Forest Fire Prevention Act, visit our website at ontario.ca/page/ outdoor-fire-rules-and-permits.
