Dozens of truckers pulled over and then off the road in CK
The roads in Chatham-Kent are a little bit emptier -- and safer -- after the local police force teamed up with the Ministry of Transportation for a recent traffic blitz.
CK police said during the two-day initiative last week, officers inspected 55 commercial motor vehicles and ended up taking 46 of them out of service.
Officers also seized two licence plates due to unsafe conditions and issued 51 tickets as a result of the stops.
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Watermelon wheelbarrow thief caught red-handed
A 22-year-old Chatham man is facing charges after allegedly wheeling off with some watermelons from a local farm market.
Chatham-Kent police said an observant citizen spotted the man taking off with a wheelbarrow full of watermelons from Sarah’s Farm Market on Sandy’s Street in Chatham at around 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police were able to get a description of the man and found him on Richmond Street about half an hour later, still in possession of the wheelbarrow and six watermelons.
The accused was arrested and charged with theft and possession of property obtained by crime. He was later released with conditions and a future court date.
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Police arrest trio of shoplifters
Chatham-Kent police nabbed three different suspects accused of shoplifting on Sunday.
Officers said in the first case, a 42-year-old man allegedly walked into the Shopper's Drug Mart on Queen Street Sunday afternoon and took off with a $20 bottle of cologne without paying for it.
Police were able to track down the suspect a short time later and arrested him. He was charged and later released with a future court date -- the cologne was also recovered and returned to the store.
In the second case, also Sunday afternoon, officers arrested a 37-year-old Dresden woman who allegedly stole a pair of earbuds worth about $40 from the Rexall Pharmacy on St. Clair Street. She was charged and then released with a future court date.
Police said they were able to recover the stolen property and returned it to the store.
In the third case, a 22-year-old Chatham man was arrested and charged after police received a shoplifting complaint at Walmart in Chatham Sunday night. Police said they caught up with the man near St. Clair Estates and later released him pending a future court date.
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Domestic dispute ends in charges
Two people are facing charges in connection with a domestic disturbance call in Wallaceburg.
Police said they were called to the scene Sunday night, adding that their investigation showed a verbal argument escalated into a physical altercation.
A 40-year-old Wallaceburg man was arrested and charged with assault and failing to comply with his release conditions by communicating with his ex-wife.
A 34-year-old Sarnia woman was also arrested and charged with assault and facilitating a breach.
Both of the accused were released with future court dates.
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Uttering threats
A 33-year-old Bothwell man is charged with assault and uttering threats after police received a call about a domestic disturbance at a residence in Bothwell.
Police said the call came in early Monday morning, adding that the man was arrested after they learned a verbal argument had escalated into a physical altercation.
The accused was taken into custody pending a bail hearing.
