Here are your latest Brockville and area headlines:
- A Brockville drug bust by city police and OPP has led to drug trafficking charges for two people. Brockville police say a 45-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were arrested yesterday morning in the city’s south end. Some crystal methamphetamine was seized. The BPS drugs and intelligence unit and the criminal investigations branch were helped by the OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit in performing the search.
- OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique says their force has been trying to get rid of a Leeds County officer ever since his initial conviction for drug trafficking in October 2018 and a subsequent Police Services Act conviction and dismissal order. But Jason Redmond appealed the PSA conviction allowing him to continue to collect a paycheque under rules in the Police Services Act. The OPP says the adjudicator ruled against the force’s request that the appeal would not automatically stay the conviction and penalty. The statement came a day after Postmedia reported Redmond was convicted in February of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and recording the act on his cell phone. The OPP says he’s still facing other serious charges before the court.
- The cost of living saw more Brockville families head to the food bank last year. The Brockville and Area Food Bank saw a 17 per cent year over year increase. There were 16,346 visitors receiving food last year compared to 14,009 in 2021. The change wasn’t as steep as it was during the thick of the pandemic when there was a 28 per cent increase in food recipients between 2020 and 2021.
- A Merrickville driver has been caught after bailing on an OPP RIDE spot check last week. Police say the driver had taken off after being told to pull over for further investigation at the stop on County Road 43, west of County Road 19. An 18-year-old man is now facing charges of failing to provide a breath sample, failing to stop for police, failing to comply with a demand as well as a Highway Traffic Act charge of driving without proper headlights.
- Akwesasne Mohawk Police say six bodies have been found during a large scale air and water search of the St. Lawrence River off the eastern tip of Cornwall Island. The bodies were found as authorities were looking for 30-year-old Casey Oakes. He was reported missing after leaving the east end of the island in a boat Wednesday night. Police have not identified the dead.