LANARK COUNTY – The heatwave can’t be conclusive evidence, but Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) had a busy week with an uptick in calls in the weekly round-up.

Between Monday, June 29 and Monday, July 6 officers from the Lanark County Detachment of the OPP responded to 342 calls for service. 

OPP were called to 10 domestic incidents over the week.

Carleton Place OPP were called to an address in Montague Township on June 30, at 6:30 a.m. regarding a domestic incident. What started as a verbal argument ended with minor injuries to one of the persons. A 35-year-old resident of the home was arrested and charged with spousal assault. Release was in the form of an undertaking for a scheduled court date of Sept. 28, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth.

Lanark County OPP were called to a residence in the Village of Lanark on July 3, just before 10:30 a.m. regarding a 911 call for a domestic incident which had just occurred. Officers attended and spoke with the victim who was later taken to a place of safety. The accused was arrested and charged with three counts of spousal assault, uttering threats – cause death, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and mischief. The charges stem from 2010 to the date of arrest. Release was in the form of an undertaking with a scheduled court date of Sept. 28, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth. The victim sustained minor injuries from the assaults.

On July 4, a victim of domestic abuse contacted the Carleton Place OPP. Officers conducted their investigation which resulted in the arrest and charge of the person’s estranged spouse, a 49-year-old resident of Carleton Place, with two counts of spousal assault and one count of uttering threats – to cause death (spousal). The incidents were reported to have occurred between August 2018 and February 2020. The accused was released from custody on an undertaking with a scheduled court date of Oct. 5, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth.  

Lanark County OPP were advised on July 4, just after 9:30 p.m. of a historical domestic incident in the Town of Perth. Officers attended the address and spoke with all parties. A 53-year-old resident of the home was arrested and charged with spousal assault for an incident in 2016. Release was in the form of an undertaking with a scheduled court date of Sept. 28, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth.

Police investigated 14 thefts over the week.

Between June 29 and July 6, Lanark County OPP received numerous calls regarding gas drive-offs: Seven incidents in Carleton Place and two in Perth.

Vehicle owners are reminded when selling a vehicle or if a vehicle is damaged in a collision and is written off, the plates belong to the owner and should be removed. If not removed, someone else could put them on another vehicle to commit a crime and police will then come knocking on the owner’s door as the plates are still registered to them. If you don’t want the plates; return them to the Ministry of Transportation office.

Lanark OPP responded to seven calls of mischief.

Carleton Place OPP were called to the skateboard park on Patterson Crescent in Carleton Place on July 3, just after 10 a.m. regarding a large amount of graffiti at the location. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122.

 The OPP are investigating 13 suspected cases of fraud.

“In the past week, Lanark County OPP have received several calls regarding fraudulent incidents over the phone or Internet,” OPP media relations officer Lori Lobinowich released in a statement. “The public are reminded to be very cautious in providing any personal or banking information over the telephone to an outside caller. Changing passwords regularly is the best way to prevent email, banking and other online accounts from being hacked. Other incidents reported this week included mail being redirected without the owner’s knowledge. If you are going to be away, have someone collect your mail and if you are missing regularly scheduled mail, contact the sender.”

The Lanark OPP attended 22 motor vehicle collisions over the week including seven deer collisions, five parking lot boo-boos and two vehicles in the ditch.

Lanark County OPP were called to the intersection of Dufferin Street and Wilson Street West in the Town of Perth on July 3, just after 7 a.m. regarding a two-vehicle collision. Officers attended and conducted their investigation which resulted in one of the drivers, a 45-year-old resident of Lanark, being charged with start from stopped position not in safety contrary to the Highway Traffic Act. There were no reported injuries from this collision.

The Lanark OPP arrested four impaired drivers over the week.

On June 30, officers from the Lanark County OPP were conducting RADAR enforcement on Highway 7 in Drummond-North Elmsley Township just after 9 p.m. A vehicle was stopped for speeding and the driver spoken to. The resulting investigation ended with the arrest and charge of Nick Johnson, 22 of Carleton Place, for operation while impaired and operation while impaired – over 80. The driver’s licence was suspended automatically for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven days. Release was in the form of an undertaking for a scheduled court date of Aug. 31, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth. The accused was further charged under the Highway Traffic Act for speeding and novice driver – b.a.c. above zero.

“Thanks to several calls in to Carleton Place OPP from concerned motorists an impaired driver was stopped and arrested on Highway 7 in Beckwith Township on July 4, just before 2 p.m.,” Lobinowich said. “Arrested and charged with operation while impaired and operation while impaired – over 80 is a 36-year-old resident of Ottawa, who registered breath test readings four times over the legal limit.”

The accused was later released from custody on an appearance notice with a scheduled court date of Sept, 14, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth. A Highway Traffic Act charge of race a motor vehicle – excessive speed was also laid.

 A traffic stop for 50 km/hr over the posted limit on July 5, just after 10 p.m. on Highway 15 in Montague Township by officers from the Carleton Place OPP resulted in the arrest and charge of operation while impaired and operation while Impaired – Over 80 for a 27 year old resident of Greely. The accused was released from custody on an appearance notice with a scheduled court date of Oct. 5 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Perth. 

As a result of RADAR enforcement on Highway 15 in Montague Township of July 4, just before 10:30 p.m., officers from the Carleton Place OPP stopped a vehicle being driven by a 29-year-old resident of Calgary. The driver was charged with race a motor vehicle – excessive speed contrary to the Highway Traffic Act Section for travelling at 61 km/hour over the posted limit. The driver’s licence was suspended along with the vehicle being impounded for seven days.  

The OPP East Region had a very busy Canada Day week.

Members of OPP detachments, Highway Safety Division and Marine Units across East Region laid 2,226 traffic-related charges over between June 27 and July 5.

Charges laid in East Region include:

Highway

Speeding – 1393

Various Highway Traffic Act / Hazardous Moving Violations – 344

Stunt Driving – 68

Impaired by Drugs or Alcohol – 42

Suspensions – warning range on Approved Roadside Screening Device – 14

Distracted Driving – 24

Marine

PFD/Life Jacket – 48

Off Road Vehicles

Impaired by alcohol or drugs – 3

Suspensions – warning range on Approved Roadside Screening Device – 1

No helmet – 4

Other

Motorcycle – no helmet – 1

Bicycle – no helmet – 1

“OPP members will be on the highways, trails and waterways all summer, working to ensure everyone’s safety,” inspector Dave Tovell, Manager of OPP Traffic and Marine Programs in eastern Ontario, said. “The bottom line is wearing your PFD, seatbelt and helmet can prevent an incident from becoming a tragedy. Safety on our roadways, trails and waterways is everyone’s responsibility. If you see dangerous driving or suspect a driver of being impaired, call 911 immediately.”

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