Category: Sault Ste Marie

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Gilles BELZIL – Impaired Driving

(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – Multiple traffic complaints from concerned road users helped police locate a driver believed to be impaired by drugs.

On November 13, 2024, at approximately 5:17 p.m., officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began receiving multiple traffic complaints of a vehicle that was driving in a dangerous manner on Highway 17 east of Sault Ste. Marie. Witnesses reported the vehicle braking irregularly, greatly fluctuating its speed, turning on and off its four-way flashers, passing vehicles on the shoulder, and tailgating. Police located the vehicle on Black Road in Sault Ste. Marie, and initiated a traffic stop.       

During their interaction with the driver, police formed grounds to believe the driver’s ability to operate a vehicle was impaired. As a result, Gilles BELZIL, 54 years-of-age, of Grande Prairie, Alberta, was arrested and charged with:

  • Dangerous operation – two counts
  • Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
  • Refusal to comply with demand
  • Drive vehicle with Cannabis readily available

The accused was held for a bail hearing, and subsequently released by the Ontario Court of Justice with a return court date of December 9, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The public is always encouraged to call 9-1-1 if they observe a possible impaired driver. The Sault Ste. Marie OPP appreciates the efforts of those who called to report the dangerous driving behaviour of this individual. Thank you for helping us keep our roads safer for everyone.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

3 Charged With Possession Of Property Obtained by Crime

(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – Three individuals are facing criminal charges following a traffic stop in the city’s west end. On November 12, 2024, at approximately 12:20 a.m., officers with the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police were conducting general patrol on Third Line West, when they observed a motor vehicle pulling out of a property that was under construction. Officers further observed the vehicle pulling a trailer that did not have working lights.

A traffic stop was conducted, and investigation revealed the three vehicle occupants were in possession of scrap metal stolen from the construction site.

The vehicle driver, James GREENING, 46 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with: 

  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
  • Draw trailer, no plate
  • Draw trailer, no permit
  • No red light on rear of trailer

Vehicle passenger, Frank CAICCO, 59 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

Vehicle passenger, Amanda ATHERTON, 40 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

All three accused individuals were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on December 16, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

More Impaired Drivers Arrested

(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – The Sault Ste. Marie detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has investigated four impaired driving incidents this month, charging four drivers with a total of nine offences. All incidents occurred on busy roads during the afternoon and early evening hours. 

On October 12, 2024, at approximately 2:56 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP officers were conducting a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoint on Highway 556 near Searchmont. A vehicle entered the RIDE and investigation determined the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages. The driver was also prohibited from driving a motor vehicle in the province of Ontario. As a result, Thomas JAEGER, 45 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
  • Driving while under suspension

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on November 18, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused’s vehicle was impounded for 45 days.

On October 14, 2024, at approximately 5:49 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP officers were conducting general patrol on Second Line West in Sault Ste. Marie. They observed a motor vehicle driving slower than the flow of traffic in a passing lane. A traffic stop was conducted and investigation determined the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages. As a result, Robert WILDMAN, 53 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
  • Fail to keep right when driving at less than normal speed

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on November 4, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

On October 26, 2024, at approximately 4:38 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP officers were conducting general patrol on Fourth Line West in Sault Ste. Marie. They observed a motor vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was conducted and investigation determined the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages. As a result, Daniel THORNTON, 40 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on November 25, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

On October 27, 2024, at approximately 4:36 p.m., Sault Ste. Marie OPP were notified of a traffic complaint for a southbound motor vehicle travelling on Highway 17, south of Wawa. Witnesses reported the vehicle swerving in and out of its lane, entering the oncoming lane and nearly causing several head-on collisions. The vehicle was located on Highway 17 near White Lane Drive in Goulais River. Investigation determined the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages. As a result, Ryan KOSKI, 45 years-of-age, of Thunder Bay was arrested and charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on November 25, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The OPP remains committed to taking alcohol and drug-impaired drivers off our roads through enforcement and public education. If you suspect someone is driving while impaired, please call 9-1-1.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Kaleb DEMOUR – Drug Trafficking

(SAULT STE MARIE, ON)- OPP execute drug warrant in Sault Ste Marie.

In the summer of 2024, Sault Ste Marie and Superior East Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crime Units (CSCU) and the OPP’s Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau (POIB), began an investigation related to drugs being trafficked from Sault Ste Marie to Wawa.

On August 20, 2024, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the OPP’s CSCU and POIB assisted by the Sault Ste OPP Detachment, and Sault Ste Marie Police Service’s Canine Unit, Drug Enforcement Unit and Emergency Services Unit, arrested an individual in the City of Sault Ste Marie and seized approximately $4500 in Canadian currency. 

Later, on this same afternoon a drug warrant was executed at a residence on Durban Street in Sault Ste Marie. Police seized over 16 grams of suspected fentanyl (estimated street value $2400) and over 55 grams of suspected cocaine (estimated street value $6000), and drug paraphernalia.

Kaleb DEMOUR, 30 years-of-age from Sault Ste Marie was charged with:

  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-cocaine
  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking-opioid (other than heroin)
  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000

The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie Video Bail on August 21, 2024.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Keith KING – Drunk Driving

(SAULT STE MARIE, ON)– Speeder charged with impaired driving.

On August 3, 2024, shortly after 12:00 a.m., the Sault Ste Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were on patrol duties when officers observed a westbound car travelling at a high rate of speed on Trunk Road in the City of Sault Ste Marie.

A traffic stop was initiated and while the officer was speaking to the driver, police determined the driver had consumed alcohol and a subsequent arrest was made. The driver was transported to the Sault Ste Marie OPP detachment for further testing.

As a result, Keith KING, 33 years-of-age from Sault Ste Marie was charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – alcohol
  • Operation while impaired-blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
  • Having care and control of a motor vehicle with unsealed container of liquor
  • Driver fail to surrender licence

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on September 2, 2024.

The car was towed and impounded for seven days with the driver being issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Christian STRUM-FURGE & Amy STRUM Were Arrested

(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – Two individuals are facing criminal charges following multiple property crime investigations.

The first incident occurred on February 8, 2024, shortly before 9:00 a.m., when the Sault Ste. Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a theft from a business near Agawa Canyon. With the public’s assistance, police were able to identify the individual responsible for the theft.

Then on March 26, 2024, shortly after 10:00 a.m., the Sault Ste. Marie OPP responded to a suspicious vehicle on Carp Road in Batchawana Bay. Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle pulling a large piece of industrial equipment. Police located the vehicle and equipment abandoned, and determined the equipment was stolen from a business near Montreal River Harbour. Again, with assistance from the public, police were able to identify the driver and passenger of the suspect vehicle. The driver was revealed to be the same individual responsible for the theft near Agawa Canyon. 

When officers located the individual, they were in possession of stolen property from businesses on Trunk Road in Sault Ste. Marie, Trout Lake Road in Heyden and Calabogie Road in Echo Bay. During the arrest, the individual admitted to stealing vehicle parts and equipment from a business in Batchawana Bay, and industrial equipment from a business on Great Northern Road in Sault Ste. Marie.

As a result of the extensive investigation, Christian STRUM-FURGE, 25 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with: 

  • Theft over $5,000
  • Theft under $5,000 – two counts
  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 – three counts
  • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 – two counts
  • Mischief – destroy property 
  • Mischief under $5,000

Additionally, Amy STRUM, 45 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie has been arrested and charged with:

  • Theft over $5,000
  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Both accused individuals were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on May 6, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Jagdeep JAGDEEP Arrested

(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON) – A traffic stop has resulted in impaired driving charges for one individual. On March 24, 2024, shortly after 8:00 p.m., the Sault Ste. Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was conducting general patrol on Black Road in Sault Ste. Marie, when officers observed a motor vehicle without its headlights activated, and travelling in an unsafe manner.    

A traffic stop was initiated, where investigation determined the vehicle driver had consumed alcoholic beverages. A search of the vehicle yielded both sealed and open containers of alcohol. As a result, Jagdeep JAGDEEP, 21 years-of-age, of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and charged with:

  • Operation while Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs
  • Operation while Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus)
  • Drive without Proper Headlights
  • Novice Driver – B.A.C. Above Zero
  • Driver Fail to Surrender Licence
  • Driving Motor Vehicle with Open Container of Liquor

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on April 29, 2024 in Sault Ste. Marie. The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.

Categories
OPP Police Press Releases Sault Ste Marie

Robert HOLLAND – Assault

(SAULT STE MARIE, ON) –  On March 5, 2024, shortly after 5 pm, the Sault Ste Marie Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a call in Goulais River on Mission Road.

The accused and the victim were engaged in a verbal argument over damage to the victim’s property. Subsequently, this led to the property owner being physically assaulted.

As a result of the investigation, Robert HOLLAND, 64 years-of-age of Sault Ste Marie, was charged with assault.

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on April 8, 2024.

Please disable your adblocker or whitelist this site!