Thursday, July 14, 2005

OPP Charges Additional Persons in Ongoing Investigation into Kirkland Lake Murder

(Kirkland Lake, Ontario) – The Ontario Provincial Police have arrested and charged six more individuals as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2004 shooting death of Serge Lefebvre, 42, of Kirkland Lake. As well, two men already before the court on the case have been charged with further offences.

The OPP had responded to a 911 call at a Main Street residence in Kirkland Lake on Oct. 18, 2004 where they found Serge Lefebvre on the lawn suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to hospital and subsequently airlifted to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto where he later died.

Lawrence Burns, 33, of Kirkland Lake, has been charged with participate in a criminal organization; two counts of possession of controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; possession of property obtained by crime; perjury, and three counts of attempt to obstruct justice. He is already before the court on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, utter threats, perjury and obstruct justice.

Andre Lapointe, 32, of Kirkland Lake, has been charged with participate in a criminal organization; criminal harassment; obstruct justice: and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was already charged with conspiracy to commit murder, utter threats, and fail to comply with recognizance.

Arrested and charged today are:

Ginnette Burns (Langlois), 33, of Kirkland Lake, with participate in a criminal organization; obstruct justice; perjury; criminal harassment; and possession of property obtained by crime.

Monty Burns, 56, of Kirkland Lake, with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; possession of property obtained by crime; and participate in a criminal organization. The drug charge relates to the execution of search warrant June 3, 2005 in which drugs, with an approximate street value of $63,000, were seized.

Verla (Mae) Burns, 64, with two counts of perjury; and two counts of obstruct justice.

Natalie Martel, 26, with criminal harassment; and obstruct justice.

Max Thompson, 32, with conspiracy to commit murder; participate in a criminal organization.

Cory Valentini, 29, with participate in a criminal organization.

All accused are from Kirkland Lake. Ginnette Burns, Natalie Martel, Max Thompson and Cory Valentini are scheduled to appear July 15, 2005 in Haileybury court. Andre Lapointe and Lawrence Burns are scheduled to appear Aug. 9 in Kirkland Lake court. Verla (Mae) Burns and Monty Burns are scheduled to appear in Kirkland Lake court Aug. 23, 2005.

The investigation is continuing by the Ontario Provincial Police, under the direction of Detective Inspector Mark Pritchard of the Criminal Investigation Branch, Orillia.

CANADIAN NATIONAL POLICE AND CITY POLICE TO ENFORCE NO TRESPASSING ON TRAIN BRIDGE

Later today and tomorrow police officers from the Canadian Nation Railway Police and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will be working together to enforce the no trespassing laws on the train bridge. Both of the law enforcement agencies have safety concerns for those person crossing the train bridge on foot, as well as those who fish and swim from the bridge. Persons who are on the bridge can have outreaching effects to the police and other emergency personnel who respond to these calls. There have been situations on train bridges where persons have been seriously harmed when they have been in these restricted areas across the country.

Persons who are caught trespassing on the bridge can be charged under the Railway Safety Act of Canada. If convicted a person can be fined up to $5,000 and/or a jail term of up to 6 months.

Wanted Suspect Caught

Last evening, just before 8 pm, City Police attended in the central hill area, near Collegiate Hill, after receiving information that Myles Ketola was possibly in the area. Alert officers spotted the wanted male in the passenger seat of a vehicle. When officers pulled up behind the vehicle to stop it, at Trelawne Avenue and Grosvenor Avenue, Ketola fled from the vehicle. Officers who had been heading to area to assist the first officers immediately contained the area. Patrol Officers, with the assist of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Canine Unit and Tazer, successfully apprehended Myles Ketola in the bush area behind the Beer Store on Bruce Street. He has been remanded at the Algoma Treatment Remand Centre.

22-year old Lloyd Hicks of 50 Amy Avenue has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario with one count of Fail to Stop for Police. He will appear in Provincial Offences Court on August 10th at 9 am. It is alleged that Mr. Hicks did not pull over immediately when patrol officers activated their emergency equipment when they went to stop Mr. Hicks’s truck, which contained Myles Ketola.

Myles Ketola had been wanted on a Canada Wide Parole Warrant.

Breach of Probation

Around 11:30 pm last night City Police attended at the Clergue Park in regards to 2 intoxicated persons. When officers arrived they found 30 year old Chris Proulx of 176 Maple Street and 36-year-old Jerry Martineau of 3-59 East Street wrestling. A police query of Mr. Proulx revealed he was on a release document with conditions not to consume alcohol. He has been charged with one count of breach of release order. Mr. Martineau was on probation with conditions not to consume alcohol. He has been charged with one count of breach of probation. Both males will appear in bail court today.


Youth Charged with Sexual Assault

A 16-year old youth was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of probation. It is alleged that on July 12 the accused pulled the top down of a female youth and also touched the victim in the chest area. At the time of the incident another youth, under the age of 12 years, was also present. The accused was on probation with conditions not to be around anyone under the age of 12. The accused will appear in court on August 23rd.


City Police received 2 break and enters yesterday:

1) Just after 6am yesterday morning the Cutting Corner Unisex Hair Salon was noted to have smashed front door. It is believed that the suspects did enter the store, but did not take anything.

2) Sometime between July 12th at 3 pm and 9 am on July 13th thieves entered Mystic Messages located at 112 East Street. Nothing was taken in this break and enter either.