Port Colborne Youth Hit By Car

On Friday, Port Colborne Fire Dept, Niagara EMS, and Niagara Regional Police responded to the intersection of Elm and Kent Street’s, after a 10 year old boy was struck by a north bound vehicle while crossing Elm Street.

The youth was hurrying to get home when he stepped into the path of the north bound vehicle driven by a 19 year old Port Colborne resident. The driver of the vehicle attempted to stop but icy road conditions caused his vehicle to slide and strike the pedestrian.

The child fell in front of the vehicle, at which point, the same weather conditions which were a factor in causing the accident, appear to have played a part in saving the child’s life.
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Double Robbery In Welland

Yesterday, at 7:40pm, a male entered the Denistoun Variety Store in Welland and demanded cigarettes and cash. He was scared off by a customer entering the store.

Ten minutes later, the same male entered Petch Mini Variety on Hellems Street and demanded cash from the cashier, then fled the store with an undisclosed amount.

Welland uniform patrol officers identified the male and located him at the intersection of King and Division Streets. Charged with two counts of Robbery is Nicholas Iudiciani of no fixed abode.

Youths Charged In Beamsville

This morning, around 12:40 a.m., police were called to Senator Gibson Elementary School in Beamsville regarding the sound of smashing glass. As officers arrived, three youths fled the scene through the nearby fields and after a brief foot-chase the youths were captured. Six plate glass windows were found to be smashed out at the school. The youths, who cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were all charged with Mischief Under $5,000. They were released into the custody of their parents.

Allanburg Bridge Closure

The Allanburg Bridge on Regional Road 20 will be closed this Friday for the installation of machinery. According to the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, no vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridge between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Also see: Allanburg Bridge Disaster

Stolen SUV in Beamsville

42-year-old Fredrick Alan Rathbone of no fixed address remains in police custody after he stole a 2000 Mercedes Sport Utility Vehicle from a residence in Beamsville on February 26th.
Credit cards and $10,000 worth of jewelry were also stolen at that time.

On March 4th, the stolen vehicle was recovered followed by the arrest of Rathbone in St. Catharines. The SUV sustained approximately $5,000 damage prior to being recovered, and police were able to fully recover the missing jewelry.

Rathbone is facing charges of Theft of Auto Over $5,000 contrary to section 334(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada and Theft of a Credit Card contrary to section 342(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada. Rathbone remains in police custody pending a Bail Hearing in St. Catharines as police continue to investigate several instances of fraudulent use of the credit card.

Motel Fire Claims The Life Of A Man And His Dog

The room where a Niagara Falls man died of smoke inhalation last week did not have a working smoke alarm.

The body of the 47-year-old man was discovered Friday afternoon at the Regency Motel on Mountain Road.

Fire officials say the man, who lived at the motel, had likely been dead for several days.

“There was clear evidence there had been a fire in the room, but the fire had extinguished itself,” said Brian Dickson, an inspector with the Niagara Falls Fire Department.

The fire was contained to the bed and surrounding area. Inspectors say careless smoking is the case of the fatal fire.

“The man’s companion, a big Labrador retriever cross, was also found dead in the room,” Dickson added.

The man’s death occurred just days before a house fire in Hamilton claimed the lives of five people, including a mother and her three young children.

Continue the article at the Welland Tribune website

Search Warrant Takedown

On Friday, eleven people were arrested after a very in-depth investigation by Detectives. Police executed Controlled Drugs and Substance Act search warrants at a Welland pizza establishment, five Welland residences and one Port Colborne residence.

Eight of the eleven persons are currently facing Criminal Charges in relation to the search warrants:

• 40-year-old John Hibbert of Balmoral Avenue, Welland. Hibbert is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and breach of probation.

• 45-year-old Karl Nelson of King Street, Welland. Nelson is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

• 24-year-old Joshua Hyndman of Dain Avenue, Welland. Hyndman is charged with 2 counts of Possession of a prohibited weapon and Possession of a Controlled substance.
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Thieves Target Vending Machines

On February 27th, Police were called to St. Alfred’s School at 280 Vine Street in St. Catharines after school officials witnessed 2 men breaking into a beverage machine located inside the school. The 2 suspects fled on foot but with the assistance of witnesses, police tracked down and arrested Gino Camilleri and Robbie Sobchak.

The men face numerous charges relating to similar occurrences of thefts from apartment building laundry rooms. There are a number of other similar incidents that police are still investigating. Both men were held in custody pending Bail Hearings.

Man Jumps From Car In Vineland

From the St.Catharines Standard:

A 35-year-old Niagara man died after jumping out the passenger side of a car while it was travelling along the westbound QEW Thursday night.

Ontario Provincial Police say the man was struck by at least one car and possibly more during the 7:45 p.m. incident, just west of the Victoria Avenue exit.
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Welland Man Dies After Attempting To Retrieve His Stolen Wallet

Yesterday, a Welland man reported to police that his wallet and other personal items were stolen and that he had located some of his belongings in a near-by storm sewer.

After learning that the retrieval of the items was not immediately possible, the officer on the scene left the area to continue the investigation and advised the man of the dangers associated with retrieving the items from the sewer.

The officer returned to the area to find the sewer cover was off. The man was wedged securely inside, head first but still conscious. He was rescued and transported to the Welland County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is not known, and an autopsy is scheduled. Foul play is not suspected.

The man has been identified as Lionel Desjardins, 57, of Welland.