NEPEAN – The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has determined no charges will be laid against an Ottawa police constable involved in a struggle during a May arrest, which left a suspected car thief with a broken jaw.

According to the SIU, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) responded to a call about a car-jacking on the morning of May 26. 

Investigators say a man had walked up to an OC Transpo supervisor, who was sitting in a parked SUV at the Woodroffe Station, across from Algonquin College. The man allegedly pulled the woman from the vehicle and drove off, crashing the SUV near Woodroffe Avenue and the Queensway.

Shortly after, OPS officers spotted the suspect at the Carlingwood Shopping Centre, trying to get into a pickup truck. Officers moved in to arrest the man and police say he reached for an officer’s gun.

The officer forced the suspect to the ground, and handcuffed him.

The suspect was taken to hospital, where x-rays revealed a broken jaw.

The SIU ruled the use of force was justified in this incident.

Bayshore robbery

NEPEAN – The Ottawa Police Service is hoping the public can help identify two men, wanted in relation a theft of jewellery in the Bayshore area.

Officers say a man walked into a jewellery store inside Bayshore Mall on December 2, around 2 p.m., and asked an employee about engagement rings. The suspect tried to grab two rings out of the employee’s hand, but was unsuccessful and ran out of the mall.

Just a few hours later, police say the same suspect walked into the same jewellery store, this time accompanied by a second man. They smashed a glass display case, took four engagement rings and ran out of the mall in a newer model white Nissan Sentra with winter rims. The vehicles plates were concealed.

The first suspect is described as:

• White
• In his 20’s
• Medium build 
• Shoulder-length curly blonde hair
• Was wearing a grey hoodie, black pants, a black parka and black Adidas NMD shoes with Equality written on the top

The second suspect is described as:

• White
• In his 20’s
• Medium build
• Was wearing a black zip-up hoodie, dark pants and grey shoes

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Ottawa Police Service West Criminal Investigations Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2666. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or at crimestoppers.ca.

Assault charges in Renfrew

RENFREW – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is charging four men after a home robbery on Russett Drive in McNab/Braeside Township.  

Officers were called to the area around 11:30 p.m., on December 16.

As a result of the investigation, Kyle Dos Santos, 24, of Cassleman; Nikolas Sperotto, 24, of Russell; Michael Waldstein, 28, of McNab-Braeside; and Dylan Zoobkoff, 27, of Arnprior have all been charged with the following: 

• Assault with a weapon section 267(a) Criminal Code of Canada (CC) (2 counts)
• Assault causing bodily harm section 267(b) CC (2 counts)
• Robbery with a weapon section 344(1)(b) CC
• Utter threats cause death or bodily harm section 264.1(1)(a) CC
• Forcible confinement section 279(2) CC
• Careless use of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition section 86(1) CC
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm section 92(1) CC
• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was firearm section 94 CC
• Possession of a schedule one substance for the purpose of trafficking section 5(2) controlled drugs and substances act

The accused were held for a bail hearing on Dec. 17 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke. 

The OPP says its investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.

Police seek repeat offender

OTTAWA – The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is asking for the public’s help in finding a federal offender, wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant, as a result of his breach of statutory release.  

Kenneth Peever, 45, known to frequent Ottawa, is described as:

• 5′ 11″ (180 cm)
• 171 lbs (78 kgs) 
• Brown hair 
• Hazel eyes
• Has tattoos on his upper right arm and front, upper torso

Peever is currently serving a two-year, two-month and 13-day sentence for:

• Break and enter with intent
• Theft under
• Possession break-in instruments
• Possession property obtained by crime
• Possess weapon/dangerous purpose
• Mischief in relation to other property
• Motor vehicle theft
• Possess/use/traffic stolen/forgery/false use of credit card
• Fail to comply with probation order

Anyone who has had contact with Peever or information in regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Provincial R.O.P.E. Squad at 416-808-5900 or toll free at 1-866-870-7673 (ROPE) or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or call 9-1-1.

Teen arrested for Glebe break-in

GLEBE – The Ottawa Police Service has arrested an 18-year-old in relation to a break-in on Powell Avenue in The Glebe.

Officers were called to the area between Bank Street and Lyon Street at 6:20 a.m., Thursday, for a break and enter in progress.

At the scene, officers started to investigate and found a suspicious man, began to chase the suspect and eventually arrested him.  

Daniel Steven Garvin, of Ottawa, is charged with:

• Break and enter (2 counts)
• YCJA breach 

Garvin attended show cause court, today (Dec. 19).

Gatineau man facing fraud charges related to $200,000 theft

OTTAWA – A 50-year-old Gatineau man is facing a fraud charge after a non-profit day care was defrauded of more than $200,000.

Ottawa police began to investigate the case following complaints of fraud from an Ottawa-based day care back in June. 

The accused used to work as a financial coordinator with the day care. He had access to the organization’s payroll, company cheques, and the company’s credit card. Police say he made unauthorized payments and transactions for personal gains between 2010 and 2016.        

The OPS’ Organized Fraud Unit charged Vasilios (Bill) Polymenakos with fraud exceeding $5,000 on December 5.

Polymenakos is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 9, 2020.