THUNDER BAY – The Ontario Provincial Police across the region have been busy with a number of calls. From capturing an escaped person, to searching for a missing man on Lake of the Woods, to impaired charges officers have been kept busy.
KENORA – The Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Marine and Trails Unit (MTU) is investigated a missing boater on the east end of Lake of the Woods.
On Wednesday, August 15, 2018, at approximately 2:00 p.m, the OPP were notified that a male adult was missing on Lake of the Woods. The male from the United States of America reportedly fell into the lake and did not resurface.
On Friday, August 17, 2018, the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit (USRU) attended Shore Island on Lake of the Woods. At approximately 6:00 p.m, the USRU located the body of the deceased.
The man has been identified as 71-year-old Larry BOOTH from Iowa, United States of America.
A post-mortem examination was scheduled for August 20, 2018.
Marathon OPP Arrest Impaired Driver
MARATHON – On August 22, 2018, at approximately 7:45 p.m. officers of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Marathon detachment received a report regarding a possible impaired male sitting in his vehicle in a parking lot of a local business west of Marathon on Highway 17.
Officers attended the area and located the vehicle with one male occupant. After further investigation and speaking with the male it was determined that he was impaired by alcohol.
As a result, the 59-year-old male, Dwayne GUSHULAK of Thunder Bay, ON was arrested and charged with:
- Care or Control of a Motor Vehicle over 80mgs Alcohol CC253(1)(b).
The male is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Marathon on September 19, 2018, to answer to the charge.
Motorists who drive impaired by alcohol or drugs are subject to drivers license suspensions, fines, vehicle impoundments, criminal records and increased insurance costs. Please drive responsibly and don’t drink and drive.
The public is encouraged to call 911 or contact police at 1-800-310-1122 whenever suspecting that a driver is impaired while operating a motor vehicle whether it is a Car, Truck, Motorcycle, ATV, Snowmobile, Boat or even an Airplane.
Kenora OPP Update – Escaped Female Recaptured
KENORA – The Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police and Northwest Region Canine Unit are currently searching for a female who escaped custody.
At approximately 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2018, police were notified of a female that escaped a youth custody facility in the north side of Kenora. The OPP were advised that the youth had left the facility and fled by foot.
On Wednesday, August 22, 2018, at approximately 9:00 a.m, police located the female at a residence on the Southside of Kenora. The youth is charged with Escape lawful Custody under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
She will appear in Kenora court on August 23, 2018.
First Degree Murder Charges Laid
ELLIOTT LAKE – On February 14, 2018, members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) located human remains in a wooded area within the City of Elliot Lake, Ontario. The human remains were that of missing person, Joseph TOPPING, 31 years-old from Elliot Lake, Ontario.
On February 26, 2018, a post-mortem examination was concluded by the Office of the Chief Coroner-Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OCC-OFPS) in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. As a result, investigators had classified the death of Joseph TOPPING, as a homicide.
The East Algoma OPP Crime Unit continued their investigation under the direction of OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) Detective Inspector Mark Zulinski and Detective Inspector Matt Watson. On August 20, 2018, police arrested a male in relation to this case.
Brad Fabian SOUTHWIND, 23 years-old, of Elliot Lake, Ontario was charged with:
- First Degree Murder, contrary to section 235(1) of the Criminal Code.
The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Bail Court in Blind River, Ontario on August 21, 2018.
