Two Sarnia men went to a business in the 100 block of south East Street and removed two exterior surveillance cameras on March 12 around 5:15 AM.   Unfortunately for them, but lucky for police and the owner, the cameras were recording at the time and showed the men clearly removing the equipment and leaving the area.  Their faces were clearly visible and they were easily identified.

The one male, a 44 year old, was arrested on March 14 around 6:15 PM in the area of Ontario and Russell Streets.  He was wearing the same clothing he had on while stealing the cameras.  When arrested, he had a serrated kitchen steak knife up the sleeve of his coat.  This man faces several charges including Theft Under $5,000, Breach of Probation x 5, Carry Concealed Weapon and Breach of Undertaking.  He was held for bail.

The second man, aged 42, has not been located and a warrant for his arrest is requested.  He will face charges of Theft Under $5,000 and Breach of Probation.  His name will be released when the warrant is signed by a Justice of the Peace.

Sarnia Police Traffic Services Branch is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a witness who was at the Tim Horton’s on London Line on March 6, 2013.  Police would like to speak to this man as he may have witnessed the incident that claimed the life of a St. Thomas woman that morning. 

The man is described as Caucasian, about 5’ 10”, medium to heavy build, about 60 years old.  He has short gray hair and wears glasses.  He was inside the Tim Horton’s around 6:10 AM.  He was wearing a black coat with leather sleeves and a cloth body.  He was also wearing blue jeans.  The coat was similar to that of a “team” jacket but had no visible monograms.  The man left through the west doors. 

The Traffic Branch investigator would like to speak to this man.  Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 519-344-8861, extension 6127.

A 42 year old Sarnia man who was released from custody on March 13, 2013 on a Recognizance with Conditions was found breaching one of his conditions and arrested the very next day.

The man walked into The Beer Store on Maxwell Street and removed several cans of beer, placing them in his red jacket.  He left without making any attempt to pay for them.  An employee saw the man taking the beer and followed him out onto Maxwell telling him he must pay.  He turned and said he was under aged.

The man continued and walked northbound onto Dundas Street.  The police were called.  A description of the man was given and he was located a short time later in the area of Centennial Park.  He was still wearing the red jacket and observed consuming the beer.  He had a total of five cans of beer in his coat.  He was arrested just before 1 PM on March 14 and held for bail.  He faces a charge of Theft Under $5,000 and Breach of Recognizance.

The witness the Sarnia Police Traffic Branch were looking for in relation to the collision that killed a St. Thomas woman, has been located and been spoken to.  Sarnia Police thank the public and the media for their assistance in this matter.

On Monday, March 18, 2013, police were called to a home in the 100 block of Durand Street in regards to an assault with a weapon.  Information was received that the suspect had left on foot.  Police attended the residence and found it in disarray, along with three victims.  The Forensic Identification Branch was requested to attend to take photos of the scene. 

An 8” stainless steel knife was seized from the floor.  The accused had attended this address to celebrate the holiday.  He began acting abnormal and was asked to leave by one of the victims.  He became agitated and indicated if he was going to have to leave, he was taking some alcohol which belonged to one of the victims.  He was told no and at this time he pounced on one of the victims, a 23 year old pregnant woman.  He punched her in the stomach and face with his fist.  The second victim, the woman’s 23 year old boyfriend, attempted to stop the accused but he too was assaulted.  He was thrown to the ground by the accused.

The accused proceeded to the kitchen.  The pregnant woman retrieved a cell phone and went into the bathroom to call 911.  The accused knocked over a table, breaking several glasses.  He returned brandishing the knife and held it to the throat of the only male victim.  He threatened to kill the man. 

The accused’s girlfriend attempted to intervene and she was pushed to the wall where the accused held the same knife to her face and repeated to her several times that he would kill her.  The accused released his girlfriend, waved the knife around stating that everyone was going to die.  The victim in the bathroom peeked out to look at the situation and the accused flailed the knife her direction and repeated the threat to her.

The accused eventually threw the knife to the floor and left.  He re-entered to retrieve the alcohol but left empty handed.  Police made numerous attempts to locate the man over the next several hours but were not successful until this morning when he was located at a residence in the 800 block of Devine Street hiding in a closet behind a Christmas tree.  He was taken to court for a bail hearing. 

Travis Gordon Wesley, age 24, of Sarnia, faces a total of 11 charges including Assault, Assault with a Weapon, Utter Threats to Cause Death, Weapons Dangerous and Mischief Under $5,000.  None of the three victims were seriously hurt.  

He was remanded into custody in court and will appear again March 20th.

The witness the Sarnia Police Traffic Branch were looking for in relation to the collision that killed a St. Thomas woman, has been located and been spoken to.  Sarnia Police thank the public and the media for their assistance in this matter.

On March 16, 2013, a Sarnia Police officer on patrol stopped a vehicle on southbound Russell Street just after 3:30 AM.   The driver had been drinking.  Other occupants of the vehicle were polled to see if anyone else could drive.  The original driver of the car happened to remove his ball hat while talking to the officer and a clear plastic baggie was observed sticking out of the inner elastic band.  It contained crystal methamphetamine.  He was arrested.  He was later released and makes his first court appearance on April 22. 

On March 19, 2013, just after 3 PM, a Sarnia Police COPPS Branch officer noticed a car leaving a residence in the 100 block of Davis Street.  The vehicle was followed to a parking lot at Wellington and Brock Streets.  When the occupants saw the police car, they fled on foot.  Other officers attended the area and a short foot pursuit ensued.

A 34 year old female was arrested moments later.  She was found to have outstanding warrants.  She was held for bail.  The male party who fled, a 32 year old Sarnia man had been arrested on March 1 for Possession of Heroin and Crystal Methamphetamine.  For those charges, he was released by a Justice of the Peace on a Recognizance of Bail with conditions.   On March 19, after fleeing from police, he too was captured.  He resisted arrest and had to be taken to the ground.  He was found to be holding several pills in his clenched fist. 

The struggle continued until green and while pills fell from his hand.  A used syringe was also found under the police car.  He faces numerous charges, including Breach of Recognizance x 2.  The pills were Dilaudid and Morphine.  He was also found in possession of $480.00 in cash.  He was held for bail. 

Early this morning, just after 1 AM, officers stopped a car in the area of Michigan Avenue, east of Modeland Road.  Three occupants were found inside.  The driver, a 20 year old Sarnia man, had climbed into the backseat of the car.  He falsely identified himself.  The man was found to be on probation with a curfew condition.  He did not have a valid driver’s licence.     

The two other occupants, a 32 year old Sarnia man and a 30 year old Corunna woman, were arrested.  Crystal methamphetamine was found in the man’s coat.  Also, in the driver’s area of the car, police located a used glass methamphetamine pipe.  All three were transported to police headquarters.  The 32 year man and the 30 year old woman were released on a Promise to Appear, charged with Possession of Methamphetamine.

The 20 year old man was held for bail.  He faces the same charge along with Breach of Probation x 3 and Public Mischief.

Sarnia Police are reminding people that they are participating in the first ever Global Tweet-a-Thon which commences at 8 AM on March 22, 2013 in each respective time zone.  There are over 150 agencies participating in the event from over eight different countries.  The event commences at 8 AM in the time zone in which the agency is located.  Australia would have already started.  The hashtag for the event is #poltwt.  The Sarnia Tweet-a-Thon will continue all day into the early morning hours of March 23rd.

Sarnia Police have held two previous tweet-a-thons in 2012 and their followers increased dramatically.  This tweet-a-thon will create significant growth in agency twitter accounts as well as increasing awareness of police work at all levels.  Youth and teens are a growing audience to Twiter.  This group do not normally listen to the radio or read a newspaper and social media platforms remain one of their main sources of important information.

Sarnia Police has a total of three Twitter accounts.  @SarniaPolice is their main account which will be the one used for the Global event.

@SPS FraudWatch is an account set up by the service’s fraud department and provides important links to various financial agencies for tips on prevednting fraud type offences and identity theft.  The Deputy Chif has an account at @DepChiefFarlow.

Sarnia Police executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant on Tunis Avenue on March 21, 2013 just before 6 PM. 

It began with a traffic stop on Walnut Street around 5:45 PM.  Two males were found in the truck, a 31 year old man from Courtright, Ontario and a 45 year old from Sarnia.  Over $3,600 in cash was seized between both of the men.   They were both arrested.  After a search of the vehicle, hydropmorphone and oxycodone tablets were discovered along with marihuana and cocaine. 

At the residence on Tunis Avenue, crystal methamphetamine was found as well as more marihuana and cocaine.  Both men face a joint charge of Trafficking in Hydromorphone.  The 45 year old man faces additional charges of Trafficking in Codeine, Trafficking in Crystal Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Oxycodone, Trafficking in Cocaine and Trafficking in Marihuana.  He was held for bail.  The 31 year old man was released on a Promise to Appear and his first court date is April 22, 2013. 

Sarnia Police responded to 119 calls for service since Friday March 22 at 5 PM.  The calls include:

5   Breach of Probation/Breach of Bail Investigations

6   Disturb the Peace

9   Domestic/Family Disputes

6   Motor Vehicle Collision Investigations

14 Noise Complaints

7  Theft Complaints

7  Traffic Enforcement calls

5  Unwanted Person/Trespassing Complaints

7  Trouble with Youth

On Friday March 22, 2013 by 7:30 PM, four of the seven cells at Sarnia Police Headquarters were occupied by women. The first woman to be arrested was for shoplifting from a business on Exmouth Street just after 4 PM.  The second woman was arrested as she on Davis Street.  She had been wanted on outstanding warrants.  The last two women to be arrested came from the area of Brock and Devine Streets.  They were found fighting by a citizen passing by the area.

In the shoplifting incident, the accused, 21 year old Sarnia resident, Samantha Beaupre, was observed leaving the store by a loss prevention officer without paying for some merchandise.  The loss prevention officer approached her outside of the store to advise her she was under arrest for Theft Under $5,000.  The accused gave the merchandise back to the officer then attempted to get on her bicycle.  A struggle ensued and the accused kicked the officer to get away from him.  She left on her bike.  He followed as police were being contacted.

They caught up to the woman on Maxwell Street and she was arrested around 4:20 PM.  She was found to be on probation.  She waited in the cells for a bail hearing, facing charges of Theft Under $5,000, Breach of Probation and Escape from Custody.

The second woman was spotted at a home on Davis Street as a Sarnia Police officer was conducting a follow up in regards to a missing person.  He knocked on the door and the woman answered.  He was aware there were outstanding warrants for the woman.  She was arrested around 6 PM.  Shelley Lynn Joseph was held for bail.  She was not connected to the missing child investigation.

In the last incident, a man was driving on Brock Street around 6:30 PM when he observed two people fighting.  The police were called.  They arrived and found two women arguing.  The officer was aware the women were not to be communicating with each other according to a court order. 

Brigitte Ann Wedemire, age 23, of Sarnia was found to be three different probation orders.  She was arrested for breaching several of the conditions on those orders as well as for Breach of Recognizance and Assault.  The second woman was found to have outstanding warrants for her arrest.  Tara Lee Fraser, 22, also of Sarnia, was arrested on four counts of Breach Probation.  When searched, she was found in possession of syringes, pipes, a razor blade, butane torch and Percocet tablets.  She was held for bail.

Once at police headquarters, the two women were lodged in separate cells.  The cells are monitored via video.  Later during the evening, Wedemire was observed throwing wet paper towels at the other female.  The cells became quite littered with debris.  She will face two additional charges of Assault and Mischief Under $5,000.        

Two more local seniors have been defrauded of a sum of money over phone scams. 

In the first incident, an 87 year old was defrauded of about $6,500 thru a telephone fraud involving various travel companies.  The senior provided VISA card information over the phone in relation to telemarketers that enticed the senior with travel incentives.  These transactions took placed over a 13 month period.

In the second incident, a 78 year old senior received a call from a man whom the senior believed was their son-in-law.  The caller advised that he had been in a motor vehicle collision in Quebec and that his insurance was no good in that province.  The caller lured the senior into sending cash to cover expenses.  About $6,000 was lost in this case.  The senior was convinced the caller was the son-in-law and sent the money via a courier company to an address in Quebec.  This investigation is being followed up by the Sarnia Police Criminal Investigations Branch.

These are just two of the many scams that seniors’ fall prey to and where fraudsters take advantage of them.  There are many educational videos available to assist the public in these types of incidents.  You can view one of them on the Sarnia Police web site by looking under “News Room” then on the drop down menu, click on “Fraud Alerts”.    

You can report all suspected frauds to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. (formerly Phone Busters)

The first ever global tweet-a-thon that Sarnia Police participated in was a great success.  Sarnia Police started “tweeting” their calls on Friday March 22 and continued throughout the day into the early morning hours of March 23, 2013.  The service started the marathon event with 3,951 followers and by 5 PM they were at 4,006 followers.  As the event progressed they garnered more followers and by 1:30 AM had a total of 4,052 followers.  Others agencies from around the globe continued, depending on the time zone and the event concluded at 8 AM on March 23.  Today, Sarnia Police has 4,118 followers. 

Comments from followers on Sarnia Police twitter feed  included “people don’t realize how much they (Sarnia Police) do until you see it posted”, “women and men keeping the city safe”, and “reminds me of olden days when Gramma had a scanner”.   Newspapers no longer rule the world.  Television has delays on newsworthy events.   Twitter is a social media platform that is gaining popularity, especially amongst young people.  It is a platform that allows your message to get out immediately to your followers who can then “retweet” the message to their followers.  The message is spread rapidly to a great many people.      

The Global Tweet-a-Thon was the brain child of Lauri Stevens who operates LAwS Communications in Massachusetts.  It is a company that assists the law enforcement profession with the implementation of interactive media technologies.  A lot of agencies that participated in the tweet-a-thon were from Canada, United States and the United Kingdom.      

Twitter is a real-time, on-line social networking service that connects you to the latest stories around the world.  Users can send and read test-based messages of up to 140 characters known as “tweets”.  Unregistered users can read tweet but only registered users can send and post tweets.  You can also download pictures and videos on twitter. 

When the Sarnia Police post a media release on their website, it automatically goes to their Face Book page as well as their Twitter account.  These three platforms all have different followers, allowing for the news item to reach greater and wide-ranging audiences.    People can retrieve up-to-date information from Sarnia Police at these three places.  

The Sarnia Police Records office will be closed on Friday March 29 as well as Monday April 1 in recognition of the Easter holiday.  The offices will re-open on Tuesday April 2, 2013.

Sarnia Police Traffic Services have been getting several complaints in regards to motor vehicles not stopping for school buses when their lights are activated and the Stop Arm is out.  Over the last 2 months, police have investigated about nine complaints.  They have charged five people and four complaints are still under investigation.

A citizen or school bus driver can call the police with their complaint and if they provide the correct licence plate number and vehicle description, an investigation will get underway.  The owner of the vehicle can be charged even though they may not be the driver at the time.  That Provincial Offence Notice carries a total fine of $490 and the owner does not lose any demerit points.  If the police are able to identify the driver of the vehicle at the time of the offence, the driver receives will receive the Provincial Offence Notice and they will lose a total of 6 demerit points.

Parents, keep this in mind when your teenager is using your vehicle or if you, as a motor vehicle owner, decide to lend your car to a friend or relative.  You, as the owner of the vehicle could be charged with the offence of Failing to Stop for the School Bus.

Sarnia Police Vice Unit executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant at a residence in the 1000 block of Overlea Crescent last night around 10:30 PM.  A 41 year old woman and a 16 year old youth were arrested inside.  They were later released on Promise to Appears, each charged with Possession of Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking.  They will appear in court in late April.  Also seized were two marihuana plants and about $1,000 in cash.  The seized marihuana carries a street value of about $7,000.

Sarnia Police responded to 210 calls for service since Thursday at 5 PM up to this morning.  These calls include:

13   911 calls dispatched

16   Alarms

6     Breach of Bail complaints

20   Disturb the Peace/Noise complaints

16   Domestic/Family disputes

7     Liquor Licence Act complaints

9     Mischief to Property

13   Motor Vehicle Collision complaints

13   Trespass to Property/Unwanted Person complaints

6     Trouble with Youth

Police were kept busy over the Easter weekend with trespassers and unwanted people who ended up getting arrested for making threats and breaching various bail and probation conditions.  Here are a few examples.

On March 28 around 8 PM, police were called to a business in the 800 block of Exmouth Street in regards to a shoplifter.  A 21 year old Sarnia man took items from the store without paying for them.  Store security followed the male outside in order to affect an arrest but he struggled with them.  The police arrived to assist and the man was handcuffed.  The item was found on him along with six syringes and a spoon with drug residue on it.  He faces charges of Theft Under $5,000, Possession of Hydromorphone and two counts of Breach of Probation.  He was later released on a Promise to Appear and his first court date is April 29, 2013.

On March 29, just before 5 AM, police noticed a 21 year old Sarnia man in the area of Stuart and Wellington Streets.  When the man spotted the cruiser, he fled.  Police located him lying in the back yard of a residence in the 100 block of Stuart Street.  He was told not to move but police observed him injecting himself with a needled in his left arm.  He tossed the needle after.  He began reaching under his body and refused to show his hands.  He then sat up.  A knife was located under his right hip.  He was handcuffed.  He was searched and two steak knives were found on him along with another used syringe with blood in it.

This man faces charges of Trespass by Night, Weapons Dangerous, Possession of Methamphetamine, Breach of Recognizance and three counts of Breach of Probation.  The man was taken to hospital as a precaution.  He was released a few hours later and is now going to attend court for a bail hearing.

Also on March 29, around 5 AM, a 53 year old Sarnia man entered a business in the 200 block of South Indian Road.  He had been trespassed from the same property only a week prior and the employee recognized him.  He approached the 34 year old female employee.  He was told to leave.  He began getting angry and was told the police were being called.  His ranting continued and employees became very frightened and were able to relay this to the police communication operator.  Police arrived and could see the man inside.  The man was screaming.  Police entered and told the man to get on the floor.  He refused.  He was eventually subdued but continued with his bizarre utterances. 

He was taken to the hospital for observation.  On March 31 around 9:30 AM, police attend the hospital to arrest him for Utter Threats to Cause Death to the employee of the business.  He was taken to police headquarters for processing.

On March 30, 2013 around 3:30 AM, police attended an address in the 300 block of North Russell Street regarding loud music.  Police spoke to other tenants and advised a female in one of the units had uttered a threat to one of them.  Police could hear the music.  They knocked on the door.  Inside they could see six people.  The suspect eventually approached them.  She was arrested.  She faces two charges of Utter Threats to Cause Bodily Harm.  She will go for a bail hearing.

On March 31, 2013, around 6:30 AM, police went to and address in the 800 block of Devine Street regarding another noise complaint.  It was learned that just prior to police arrival, people in the building had been awaken by loud music.  One of the tenants looked into the hallway to see where it was coming from.  Two women were observed arguing. 

It was learned that a 23 year female tenant had also looked into the hallway and at that time she was confronted by a 20 year old female tenant who was “noise maker”.  They argued and the 20 year punched the 23 year old in the face.  Police attended and arrested her for once count of assault.   She was later released on a Promise to Appear.        

Sarnia Police Vice Branch conducted a traffic stop early this morning around 12:50 AM in the area of Christina Street and the Highway 402 off ramp.  Inside they found 3 occupants; two males aged 43 and 35 as well as a 29 year old female.  All are from Sarnia.  They were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking.  They were transported to police headquarters.

Once in the cell block, a search of one of the males revealed he had a bag containing 126 40-milligram Oxycodone pills concealed on him.  This seizure has an estimated street value of over $7,500.  The three remain in custody and will go for a bail hearing this morning.  The three are jointly charged with Possession of Oxycodone for the Purpose of Trafficking.  

A Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant was then conducted at a residence on Penrose Street in Sarnia around 2:30 AM.  This is the home of the 29 year female who was arrested at the earlier traffic stop.  Three more individuals were found inside the residence along with small quantities of Marihuana, Methamphetamine and Oxycodone.  It was learned the 29 year old woman from the traffic stop was serving a Condition Sentence which had commenced in November of 2012.  

The people found inside the residence; a 47 year old man, and two females, aged 25 and 31 are all from Sarnia and they jointly face charges of Possession of Marihuana, Possession of Oxycodone as well as Production of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone).   The 31 year old female found in the home will also face a Breach of Probation charge.  Two of these individuals remain in custody awaiting bail hearings as they were already on releases before the court.  The 25 year old female was released on a Promise to Appear.

The 29 year old female who lived in the home will face additional charges of Possession of Marihuana, Possession of Oxycodone and Production of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) in addition to the Trafficking charge.        

Sarnia Police Vice Branch executed yet another Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant last night just after 10 PM in the 1700 block of London Line.  Two people were arrested; a 39 year old Sarnia man who remains in custody to await a bail hearing and a 31 year old female, also from Sarnia.  She was released early this morning on a Promise to Appear. 

Found inside the premises that were searched was 97 Hydromorphone pills along with Dilaudid pills, crystal methamphetamine, marihuana, fentanyl, codeine pills and hashish.  The pair is facing a multitude of charges including Possession of Hydromorphone for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking, Production of Fentanyl, Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Codeine, Possession of Marihuana, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Hashish. 

The street value of the drugs is valued at approximately $2,800.00