Police Reports: Bank Fraud in Owen Sound, Stolen Vehicle Pursuit & Multiple Other Charges Across Grey-Bruce
Multiple arrests in Owen Sound, Kincardine, Meaford, and Hanover this week as police lay charges for fraud, drugs, impaired driving, and more.
Municipal and provincial police services laid multiple charges across Grey-Bruce this week, involving fraud, impaired driving, flight from police, and a stolen vehicle pursuit that ended with an arrest in a snowbank.
Here’s a roundup of recent updates.
$40K Fraud Attempt Foiled at Owen Sound Bank
Owen Sound Police arrested a Guelph man on January 12 after he allegedly attempted to cash a fraudulent cheque for over $40,000 at a local bank.
Staff at the bank quickly identified the cheque as suspicious and contacted police. An investigation revealed that the individual had opened the account using fraudulent identification.
Nathan Didomizio is facing four charges, including fraud over $5,000, obstructing a peace officer, possession of forged documents, and breaching a probation order. He was held for a bail hearing scheduled for January 13.
High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Arrest After Stolen Vehicle Incident in Kincardine
South Bruce OPP arrested a 36-year-old Kincardine man on January 9 following a dangerous vehicle theft and pursuit through the town’s streets and nearby highways.
The suspect allegedly abandoned one vehicle in a parking lot on Huron Terrace, then stole a Buick that had been left parked nearby and fled the scene. Officers later used a tire deflation device outside Kincardine. The vehicle eventually collided with a snowbank, and the driver was arrested.
Mark Holtby is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, flight from police, impaired operation, dangerous driving, and possession of methamphetamine.
He was initially released from custody but arrested again on January 11 following a separate disturbance call. Additional charges were laid, including uttering threats and further drug possession.
Meaford Man Faces Charges After Fleeing Traffic Stop
A Meaford resident is facing several charges after allegedly fleeing from police on January 10 during a traffic stop on Grey Road 12.
Police say the vehicle, a black Ford pickup truck missing its front licence plate, accelerated away when officers attempted to pull it over. The pursuit was called off for public safety, but police later located the vehicle and arrested a man at the registered owner’s property.
Richard Blacha, 38, is charged with flight from police, failure to comply with a demand, and multiple traffic violations. His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven.
Driver Arrested After Impaired Crash North of Kincardine
A routine patrol turned into an arrest on January 11 when an OPP officer saw a vehicle veer off Highway 21 into a ditch.
Signs of impairment were observed, and the driver was transported for further evaluation by a Drug Recognition Expert.
Sheena Gallagher, 43, of no fixed address, has been charged with impaired operation and is scheduled to appear in court in Walkerton on March 11.
Three Arrested in Hanover After Downtown Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Seizure
Hanover Police released details this week of a December 23 traffic stop that led to a major drug seizure when they stopped a vehicle with unauthorized license plates and discovered a significant quantity of drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.
Officers seized:
$23,000 worth of cocaine
$5,000 worth of fentanyl
$1,400 worth of methamphetamine
Digital scales, packaging materials, and drug paraphernalia
Suspected stolen property, still under investigation
Randy Matheson, 41, of Southgate; Allicyn Bastien, 33, of Hanover; and Jodi Simpson, 50, of Brockton, have been jointly charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of methamphetamine.
Matheson also faces Highway Traffic Act charges. All three were released with conditions and are scheduled to appear in Walkerton court.
Anyone with information related to these or other cases is encouraged to contact their local police detachment or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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