By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Tilbury Times Reporter
Chatham-Kent police responded to a high volume of calls between Dec. 19 and 29, laying numerous charges related to impaired driving, domestic disputes, warrants, thefts and probation breaches. Officers also investigated a cryptocurrency fraud, a stolen trailer and several trespassing complaints as holiday‑season activity kept police busy across the municipality.
Chatham-Kent police responded on Dec. 19 to reports of a vehicle driving erratically in a business parking lot in Chatham. Officers located the vehicle near St. Clair Road and Pine Line and arrested a 35-year-old Chatham man for dangerous driving and impaired operation. After providing two failed breath samples, he was also charged with operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams. He was released with conditions and a Jan. 5 court date.
Police were called to a business on St. Clair Street in Chatham shortly after midnight on Dec. 20, where a 41-year-old woman was found inside an upstairs washroom after closing. She was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant for failing to comply with an undertaking and probation, and later released with a Jan. 14 court date.
Officers issued a Provincial Offences Notice to a 45-year-old Chatham-Kent man on Dec. 20 after he repeatedly trespassed and caused a disturbance outside a business on King Street West.
A 46-year-old Chatham-Kent man was arrested later that morning after refusing to leave the same area and spitting inside a police cruiser. He was charged with assaulting a peace officer and released with a Jan. 20 court date.
Police investigated a suspicious vehicle on Davidson Road in Tilbury on the afternoon of Dec. 20. A 61-year-old Tilbury man drove away during the interaction but was stopped after a brief pursuit. He was released with conditions and issued a Provincial Offences Notice.
A 35-year-old Chatham man was charged with refusing to comply with a breath demand after a traffic stop on King Street West at 3:48 a.m. on Dec. 20. His licence was suspended and his vehicle impounded.
Police arrested a 51-year-old Chatham man on Dec. 21 after he was found at a Grand Avenue West business he was prohibited from attending under probation conditions. He was charged with two counts of failing to comply and held for bail.
A 70-year-old Orford Township woman reported on Dec. 21 that she had been defrauded through a cryptocurrency scam by a man she met on Instagram. Police continue to investigate.
A 25-year-old Walpole Island man surrendered to police on Dec. 22 on an outstanding warrant stemming from a September impaired-driving investigation. He was released with a new court date.
Police are seeking information about a heavy-duty trailer stolen overnight between Dec. 22 and 23 from Queen’s Line in Tilbury. The trailer did not have a licence plate attached.
Officers responded to a family dispute on Antrim Road in Howard Township on Dec. 23. A 54-year-old Morpeth man was accused of threatening family members with a crowbar before fleeing. He was later located in Blenheim and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, uttering threats and refusing to comply with a demand. He was released with conditions.
Police arrested a 52-year-old Chatham man on Dec. 23 following an ongoing pattern of intimate partner violence, including choking and property damage. A firearm was seized for unsafe storage. He was held for bail.
A 35-year-old Chatham man surrendered to police on Dec. 23 on a warrant related to an April impaired-driving investigation and several Highway Traffic Act offences. He was released with conditions.
A 21-year-old Chatham man was arrested on Dec. 24 after refusing an approved screening device demand during a traffic stop on St. Clair Street. He later provided two failed breath samples and was charged with nine offences, including mischief for damaging property in a holding cell. He was held for bail.
A 32-year-old Walpole Island woman was arrested in Wallaceburg on Dec. 24 after leaving a McNaughton Avenue store with unpaid merchandise. She was charged with theft under $5,000 and possession of stolen property.
Police arrested a 22-year-old Chatham man on Dec. 24 after he allegedly choked a 39-year-old woman and threatened her. He resisted arrest and later spat on an officer. He was remanded into custody.
A 30-year-old Chatham man was arrested on Dec. 25 after a break-in at a Richmond Street building. Police say he wore a disguise, stole property and was later found with break-in tools, stolen items and ammunition. He was held for bail.
A 33-year-old Ridgetown woman was arrested late on Dec. 25 after allegedly punching her partner during a domestic dispute. She was released with conditions.
Police arrested a 26-year-old Chatham woman on Dec. 26 after she allegedly assaulted her partner with a set of keys. She was released with conditions.
A 48-year-old Chatham woman was uninjured after driving her vehicle into the river at the Kingsway Drive boat launch on Dec. 26. She was charged with careless driving.
A 24-year-old Chatham-Kent man was arrested early on Dec. 27 after refusing a breath demand at a St. Clair Street restaurant. He was released with conditions.
A 45-year-old Chatham-Kent man was arrested minutes later after driving erratically near Keil Trail and Duskridge Road. Police say he refused to identify himself and resisted arrest before providing failed breath samples. He was released with conditions.
Two people — a 31-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man — were issued trespass notices on Dec. 28 after being found removing tags and opening packaging inside a St. Clair Street store. Both had been previously banned from the property.
A 38-year-old Belle River man and a 45-year-old Tilbury woman were arrested on Dec. 29 after being found together in violation of court-ordered conditions prohibiting contact. Both were released with future court dates.
A 28-year-old Chatham-Kent woman was arrested in Wallaceburg on Dec. 29 on an outstanding warrant related to an October theft investigation. She was released with a Jan. 29 court date.
