LANARK COUNTY – As Canada approaches the one-year anniversary (March 17) of the COVID-19 pandemic, household tensions continue to rise as the Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated eight domestic disputes over the last week.

 “Between Monday, Feb. 15 and Monday, Feb. 22, officers from the Lanark County Detachment of the OPP responded to 255 calls for service,” OPP media relations officer Const. Joe Tereschuk released in a statement today (Feb. 22).

 Twenty-three of those calls related to 22 motor vehicle collisions and one snowmobile crash.

Of the eight domestic disputes, the OPP laid three charges.

“On Feb. 17, a 75-year-old resident of Drummond-North Elmsley Township was charged with one count each of assault, mischief under $5,000 and forcible confinement as the result of a domestic investigation,” Tereschuk said. “The accused was held for a show cause hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth.”

On Feb. 17, a 37-year-old resident of Lanark Highlands Township was charged with one count of sexual assault, three counts of assault and one count of uttering threats as the result of a domestic investigation. The accused was held for a show cause hearing.

“On Feb. 20 a 62-year-old resident of Beckwith Township was charged with one count each of assault, uttering threats and mischief under $5,000 as the result of a domestic investigation,” Tereschuk said. “The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth on April 19.”

The OPP investigated seven theft complaints and four reports of fraud over the week.

“On Feb. 20, Jeffrey Hamilton, 23 of Perth, was charged with one count each of theft under $5,000, fail to comply with probation order and resisting a peace officer after a complaint of a suspicious person on Alan Avenue in the Town of Perth,” Tereschuk said. “The accused was held for a show cause hearing.”

The Lanark County OPP encourages anyone who feels they may be the target of a scam, or if you know of someone who has, to contact your local police and/or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Any person with information regarding any criminal activity should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-800-222-8477. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Lanark county Crime Stoppers at (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. 1-888-310-1122.