THUNDER BAY – A spree of arsons and break and enters has resulted in numerous arrests. Officers from the Armstrong Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), as well as the OPP North West Region Crime Unit and the Forensic Identification Unit (FIU) worked in conjunction investigating numerous arsons and break and enter incidents that occurred in Armstrong and Gull Bay. The incident dates range from November 2016, to July 2017. OPP have arrested and charged the following males in relation to these incidents.
Merle Joseph BOUCHARD, 22 years of age, from Gull Bay First Nation was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
-Arson – Damage to Property contrary to section 434 (4 counts),
-Break and Enter – Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(b)
(5 counts),
-Possession Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 contrary to section 354(1)(a),
-Mischief under $5000 contrary to section 430(4).
Brandon KAHGEE-SHONIAS, 19 years of age, from Gull Bay First Nation was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
-Arson – Damage to Property contrary to section 434 (3 counts),
-Break and Enter with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348 (1)(a) (3 counts).
James CLARK, 18 years of age, from Gull Bay First Nation was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
-Arson – Damage to Property contrary to section 434,
-Break and Enter – Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(b),
-Break and Enter with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(a),
-Mischief under $5000 contrary to section 430(4).
Two male youths from Gull Bay First Nation, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act have also been arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
-Break and Enter with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence contrary to section 348(1)(a) (3 counts),
-Mischief under $5000 contrary to section 430(4),
-Arson – Damage to Property contrary to section 434 (2 counts).
They are to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Armstrong to answer to the charges.
