OPP Report – September 26th
Firearms Stolen From Tiny Township Home
(TINY TOWNSHIP, ON) An investigation is underway following a break and enter to a home in Tiny Township that resulted in the theft of several firearms and other items.
On the afternoon of September 15, 2024, members of the Southern Georgian Bay detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police attended a residence in the area of Overhead Bridge Road and Concession 12 of Tiny Township to investigate a break and enter that occurred in the days prior.
It was discovered that many items of value were taken from the home including a gun safe containing three handguns. The stolen firearms are described as a Browning .22 calibre handgun, a CZ9 9mm handgun and a Smith and Wesson 939 revolver. The make of the gun safe is Huntshield.
Detachment members are being assisted in the investigation by the Southern Georgian Bay Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) and the OPP Central Region Forensic Identification Service (FIS).
OPP Charge Drivers Involved in Morning Crashes
(MIDLAND,ON) – Officers from the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were dispatched by the OPP Communication Centre to two separate vehicle crashes in the morning hours of September 19, 2024 leading to charges for involved drivers.
The Communication Centre received at approximately 6:29 a.m. an automated crash notification from a Ford motor vehicle in the south bound lanes of Highway 400 near Joe King’s Road, Georgian Bay Township.
Responding emergency services (EMS) included Georgian Bay Fire Services, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services, MTO Roadway Service Contractor along with uniform OPP officers who attended the scene and located the lone involved Ford Edge.
The lone occupant was triaged at the scene by EMS and transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. Investigation into the cause of the crash resulted in the 36 year old male driver of Elliot Lake being charged with Careless Driving contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
An earlier crash at 5:36 a.m. resulted in officers being dispatched to a report of a parked vehicle being struck by another vehicle that was travelling on William Street, Victoria Harbour. Upon the officers speaking with the involved driver, an impaired driving investigation was commenced.
The investigating officer called upon an OPP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) to assist and as a result Shawn Kristen FISHER 55 years of Midland has been charged criminally with the following driving offence.
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
The accused was released from custody to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on October 3, 2024 and was served a 90 day driver’s licence suspension in accordance to the Ministry of Transportation (ADLS) guidelines.
Educating the public about safe driving, boating and ORV practices with our community safety partners is a priority, if you see a possible impaired operator on our roadways, waterways or trails please “Make the Call” and dial 911 as impaired driving never ends well, please make a plan to get home safely.
DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES/LIENS/MORTGAGE FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Two arrested and 3 Arrest Warrants Issued
(TORONTO, ON) – Members of Ontario’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have arrested two individuals and Canada-wide arrest warrants have been issued for three others following a criminal investigation linked to a door-to-door sales fraud which victimized over 200 people across Ontario.
In summer 2021, Collingwood OPP began an investigation, which was later referred to the OPP Serious Fraud Office in February 2022 at which time Project Nettle commenced.
During this investigation, it was discovered salespeople were directed to attend the homes of older adults and vulnerable people to initiate frauds where victims unknowingly entered into home service and/or renovation agreements at exorbitant prices. Many victims believed they were getting services/installations and renovations for free through government grants or rebates.
Organizers of this fraud then used the fake agreements to register Notice of Security Interest’s (NOSIs) which are similar to liens against victims’ homes without their knowledge. Later, these NOSIs were paid off to the benefit of the fraud organizers using fraudulent, high-interest mortgages against the victims’ homes. In many cases, this fraud left the victims in financial peril; and in some cases, forced the victims to sell their homes.
The SFO conducted more than 230 interviews during the investigation. It is evident this fraud has been financially, emotionally, and physically devastating for many victims across the province. Victims of this fraud were provided support from investigators and SFO victim support services throughout the investigation.
The SFO would like to acknowledge the important contributions by members of Collingwood OPP, Barrie Police, Durham Regional Police Service, Guelph Police, Hamilton Police Service, Ottawa Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police, Waterloo Regional Police Service, as well as The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
You can check for any NOSIs against your home by purchasing a copy of your parcel register through the Ontario Land Registry Access at www.onland.ca. If you find a NOSI against your home, the newly enacted Homeowner Protection Act deems all consumer NOSIs registered before June 6, 2024, to be expired and allows them to be removed by registering an application to delete an expired NOSI through a lawyer. The Consumer Protection Act also allows you to withdraw from a contract within one year and get a full refund if a business or individual has misrepresented a product or service. Products or services sold door-to-door also have a ‘cooling off period’ that allows you to cancel an agreement within 10 days.
A list of arrested and wanted persons, their municipality of residence and their respective charges is attached to this media release (see ADDENDUM – PROJECT NETTLE).OPP INVESTIGATING SINGLE-VEHICLE COLLISION IN SPRINGWATER TOWNSHIP
(SPRINGWATER TOWNSHIP, ON) – The Huronia West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a single-vehicle collision in Springwater Township, which resulted in an occupant with life-threatening injuries.
On September 16, 2024, at approximately 5:45 a.m., the Huronia West OPP, Fire, and EMS responded to a collision after a passenger vehicle traveling southbound on Baseline Road stuck a tree. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was first transported to a local hospital before airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre by Air Ornge with life-threatening injuries.
Southbound Baseline Road between Flos Road 7 East and Flos Road 8 East is current closed while officers of the OPP Huronia West Detachment and Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) Team process the scene.
The investigation is ongoing and updates will be provided when available.
The OPP is requesting that if anyone was in the area during the timeframe of the incident and has any information, dash cam or surveillance footage that may assist investigators, to please call Huronia West OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
THREAT TO LOCAL SCHOOL RESULTS IN MULTIPLE WEAPONS CHARGES
(CLEARVIEW TOWNSHIP) – The Collingwood and Blue Mountains Detachment and the Huronia West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have seized numerous weapons and laid charges following an investigation into a threat made to a local school.
On September 11, 2024, the Collingwood and Blue Mountains OPP received a report regarding a potential threat to Collingwood Collegiate Institute in Collingwood by a former student. The report indicated that the threat was not imminent as it had been made in March 2024.
Regardless, the OPP takes all threats to public safety seriously and provides resources necessary to assess and respond to the threat. Public safety is our top priority.
During the investigation, police discovered that the former student may possess weapons in his vehicle and residence in Clearview Township. When police attended the residence, officers located 2 firearms and several high-capacity magazines, all improperly stored and without a valid firearms licence.
Police located and stopped the individual’s vehicle in a parking lot on Cameron Street in Collingwood, where the driver and a passenger were arrested without incident. During the arrest, police also seized 2 replica firearms, bear spray, pepper spray, a knife, and brass knuckles.
As a result, Jordan YOUNG, an 18-year-old from Clearview Township, was charged with the following offences:
- Utter threats to cause Death
- Possession of a Prohibited device for a dangerous purpose – Four Counts
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose – Three Counts
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm – Two Counts
- Possession of an imitation firearm for a dangerous purpose – Two Counts
- Possess a prohibited device
- Careless storage of firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition – Three Counts
The vehicle passenger, Bradley CAUGHLIN, an 18-year-old from Collingwood, was also charged with the following offences:
- Possession of a prohibited device for a dangerous purpose – Two Counts
- Breach of a Sentence Order
Both accused were held for bail to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie.
The investigation is ongoing. Police request that anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Huronia West OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
