Police briefs
Please contact 911 for emergencies or call 1-888-310-1122 to make a report of a non-emergent nature.
(FORT FRANCES, ON) – Shortly after 10:00 pm on March 12th, members of the Atikokan Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police conducted a traffic stop for a Highway Traffic Act violation. Further investigation at the traffic stop lead to grounds to arrest the driver and passenger for Possession of a controlled substance.
A search incident to arrest was conducted and officers located and seized evidence of controlled substances.
A 24-year-old Fort Frances man has been charged with: two counts of possession of a controlled substance – schedule I for the purpose of trafficking; three counts of failing to comply with release order; one count of possession of a controlled substance – schedule I.
A 42 year old Devlin man has been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance – schedule I for the purpose of trafficking
The former has been remanded into custody and will appear in court on March 15.
The latter has been released from custody and will appear in court on March 31.
IMPAIRED DRIVER
(FORT FRANCES, ON) – On the evening of March 12, members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were alerted to a possible impaired driver. Officers located the subject of the complaint and conducted an investigation.
Officers located the male driving a motor vehicle on King’s Highway in Fort Frances. A traffic stop was conducted and the male was arrested for impaired operation based on the officer’s observation and obvious indicators of impairment.
The driver was presented to an Intoxilyxer Technician and the investigation continued. The evidence gathered supported the observations that they were impaired.
A 47 year old man from Shuniah, Ontario has been charged criminally with: Operate conveyance while impaired by alcohol or drugs; and operate conveyance with blood alcohol concentration of 80 or more.
As a result of these charges, the driver’s privileges have been suspended in Ontario for 90 days and the motor vehicle in question was impounded for a period of seven days.
DRUG CHARGES
(KENORA, ON) The OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), Organized Crime & Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) and Kenora OPP Detachment members with assistance from the Treaty 3 Police Service have executed a search warrant at a River Drive residence in the City of Kenora.
On March 5, 2021 at 10:39 a.m. Police executed a search warrant as part of an on- going investigation into the sale of illegal drugs in the North West region. As a result, officers seized drugs, cash and drug paraphernalia.
Police have two Kenora men, aged 34 and 54 year old men with: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking-Methamphetamine; Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking-Cocaine; Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking-Opioid; Possession of a Schedule I Substance.
A 52 year old Kenora man is facing the following charges: Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking-Methamphetamine; Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking-Cocaine; Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking-Opioid; Possession of a Schedule I Substance; Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.
Two of the accused were released on Appearance Notices to attend the Kenora Courthouse on April 15, 2021 to answer to the charges, and the Third was held for bail.
ICE BREAKING
The United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Alder will be carrying out icebreaking operations at the Port of Thunder Bay, Ontario on or around March 16. The purpose of these operations is to break ice in the area so commercial vessels can access the port safely.
The date is subject to change with no notice, as activities could begin before or after that period, depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.
All ice surface users should plan their ice activities carefully, use caution on the ice and avoid the shipping lanes and icebreaking operations. Even if temperatures are cold, ice can be expected to be deteriorating naturally due to spring conditions and the effects of the sun. Extreme caution must be exercised should anyone venture out onto the ice. Unsafe ice conditions can persist long after an icebreaker has left the area.
Coast Guard icebreaking service on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways is delivered in close co-operation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards. By working together the two Coast Guards ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move through the shipping channels and into and out of community harbours.
Details of the Canadian/U.S. Coast Guard icebreaking partnership can be viewed here.
FATAL FIRE
(GREENSTONE, ON) – On Thursday, March 11, 2021 at approximately 8:30 p.m., members of the Greenstone Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Greenstone Fire Department and Superior North Emergency Management Services (EMS) responded to a report of a fire at a local residence on Cyr Way in the community of Greenstone.
It was determined that there were nine people present at the residence when the fire broke out. Eight managed to escape the fire however witnesses at the scene advised police a two year old youth was still in the home. Several attempts were made to locate the child with negative results. One adult male was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police can confirm that a body has since been located in the residence. The body will be transported to Thunder Bay for a post mortem at a later date. Police are not releasing the identity of the victim at this time.
An investigation is being conducted by members of the OPP North West Region Crime Unit, OPP Forensic Identification Services (FIS) and members from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall.
A further update will be released as information becomes available.
Any person with information regarding this investigation should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at .1-888-310-1122.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at (TIPS) or access their website at: http://www.p3tips.com/273 where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.1-800-222-8477.
COLLISION DATA
(ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is releasing its 2020 collision and fatality data, noting historic highs in deaths among some vehicle user classes.
During an unprecedented year that saw a significant reduction in traffic on OPP-patrolled roads, collisions in 2020 resulted in a higher fatality rate than in the previous year. Of note is that there were 26 per cent fewer collisions in 2020, but the fatality rate was 22 per cent higher when compared to 2019 collisions.
A significant number of the fatalities were preventable and attributed to careless and dangerous driving behaviours. Among the deaths, 62 were linked to speed, 51 to alcohol/drug use and 45 to driver inattention. Lack of seat belt use contributed to 55 driver/passenger deaths.
Transport trucks (or other commercial vehicles) were involved in 6,145 of last year’s collisions.
Forty-two (42) motorcyclists were killed, marking a sharp increase over the 27 deaths in 2019. Failing to yield right-of-way and excessive speed were leading factors. In 37 of the incidents, no other vehicles were involved, underscoring the fact that motorcyclists are vulnerable road users who cannot afford to take any unnecessary risks.
Marine fatalities reached a 12-year high and were almost double over 2019, with 32 people killed in boating incidents. Capsized vessels (17) and falling overboard (12) were leading primary causes, with paddlers accounting for half of those who died. As is the case every year, the majority of the deceased (29) were found not wearing a life jacket – a simple measure that could have significantly reduced the number of deaths.
Last year’s 23 off-road vehicle fatalities marked the highest number of deaths in 14 years. Eight (8) of those who died were not wearing a helmet. Four (4) of the riders were wearing a helmet, but with the chin strap unfastened. Alcohol/drugs was a factor in approximately one third of the deaths.
The OPP has responded to 15 snowmobile fatalities so far this season, surpassing the 13 deaths during the 2019/20 season. Driving too fast for the conditions was a factor in half of the fatalities. The OPP is reminding snowmobilers to avoid riding on frozen waterways, especially this late in the season. To date, three (3) people have died after their snowmobiles broke through the ice or were driven into open water.
The OPP is reminding Ontarians that safe, defensive driving and full compliance with traffic laws while operating any type of motor vehicle or marine vessel is the only way to significantly reduce the number of preventable deaths.
