By: Muhammad Aamir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Chatham-Kent police have laid charges in several unrelated incidents across the region in recent weeks, including robbery, theft, harassment, traffic violations, and assault. Investigations led to arrests in cases involving stolen property recovered through social media, bear mace used in a confrontation, and a man allegedly reporting a break-in he committed himself.
MAN CHARGED AFTER THEFT OF WIRING FROM LIGHT POLES
A 25-year-old Chatham man has been charged following a February incident in which wiring was stolen from several light poles on a property along Gregory Drive East, police say.
The police were called to the scene after a 23-year-old Chatham man reported damage and theft. Investigators say a suspect tampered with a light pole on the north side of the property, removing a wiring box and cutting wires, disabling the lights. The suspect then allegedly targeted two additional poles on the southwest side, removing another 40 to 50 feet of wiring. Surveillance footage captured a white SUV arriving at the scene, with a man and woman seen entering and exiting the vehicle within 15 minutes. Police say an Ontario licence plate was visible in the video. The police arrested a 25-year-old Chatham man at police headquarters. He was charged in connection with the theft and mischief and later released with a court date scheduled for May 5.
WOMAN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL HARASSMENT
A 50-year-old Chatham woman has been charged after allegedly violating her probation order and engaging in criminal harassment.
Police say the accused, who had been placed on probation on March 24 with conditions to stay at least 100 metres away from a 41-year-old victim’s residence, was heard yelling profanities near the victim’s home on Colborne Street around 6:18 p.m. The victim contacted the police, and video evidence confirmed the accused was within the restricted area. Officers arrested the woman for breaching her probation and engaging in criminal harassment. She was transported to the police headquarters and held for a bail hearing.
MAN CHARGED AS TRAFFIC STOP REVEALS SUSPENDED LICENCE
A 33-year-old Chatham man is facing multiple charges after a patrol officer pulled him over in the early morning and discovered he was driving with a suspended licence and unauthorized licence plates.
Police say the officer was travelling east on Wellington Street West when the cruiser’s Automatic Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) flagged the vehicle for an unattached plate.
A subsequent investigation determined the plates did not belong to the driver or the vehicle and that the man was under two licence suspensions — one for unpaid fines and another for medical reasons. The plates were seized and returned to the Ministry of Transportation. The has been charged with using a plate not authorized for the vehicle and two counts of driving while under suspension.
MAN CHARGED AFTER REPORTING BREAK-IN AT PROPERTY
A 48-year-old Chatham-Kent man has been charged with a break-and-enter after allegedly reporting a crime he was later believed to have committed.
The police say they were called about an insecure property on St. Clair Street, near Grand Avenue in Chatham. Officers arrived to find the door to a vacant apartment above a business had been kicked in. Following an investigation, police say evidence at the scene and comments made by the man who reported the incident led them to believe he was responsible for the damage. He was arrested, charged with break-and-enter, and released with conditions and a court date set for May 12.
MAN CHARGED AFTER VEHICLE ROBBERY IN DRESDEN
A 42-year-old Wallaceburg man is facing charges after a vehicle was stolen during a robbery at a gas station in Dresden and later found abandoned following a crash.
Chatham-Kent police say officers were called to a gas station in Dresden after a man entered the business, threatened a 29-year-old employee, and demanded the keys to his vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene in the stolen car. Police were able to identify the man quickly using video surveillance footage. A short time later, Ontario Provincial Police reported the vehicle had been involved in a single-vehicle crash north of Glencoe and was left abandoned.
The OPP officers located the suspect in Petrolia, where he was arrested and later transported to Chatham-Kent Police Service headquarters. The stolen vehicle was recovered and returned to its owner. The man has been charged in connection with the incident.
WATER HEATER RECOVERED AFTER SPOTTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A stolen tankless water heater has been recovered by the police after it was listed for sale online. The police say the heater was taken during a break-and-enter. A 28-year-old Chatham man contacted police after spotting an item matching the stolen heater on a social media marketplace. Officers traced the listing to a local residence and confirmed the item matched the one reported stolen. A 34-year-old Chatham man was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. He was released with a court date scheduled for April 28. Police say the water heater was later returned to its rightful owner.
MAN CHARGED AFTER BEAR MACE INCIDENT
A 54-year-old Tilbury man is facing charges after allegedly spraying another man in the face with bear mace during a sidewalk confrontation.
The police were called to Young Street after reports of a disturbance. Investigators say the accused encountered a 38-year-old man with whom he had a prior disagreement earlier in the day. As the verbal argument escalated, the older man allegedly pulled out bear spray and discharged it at close range into the victim’s face.
The victim fled into his residence, while the accused was also affected by the airborne spray and fell to the ground. Both men were assessed by Chatham-Kent EMS and cleared at the scene. The 54-year-old was arrested and has been charged in connection with the incident.
