Assaults, acts of mischief on the decline in Rainy River District

Crime continues to trend downward in the Rainy River District.

Violent crime is up slightly, but assaults and firearms-related incidents are down 5% over last year.

OPP Staff Sergeant Derrick MacLean says they saw a more than 40% in the last two months, with 17 cases, compared to 29 in March and April of 2025.

“With those cases, 14 would be classified as intimate partner violence related,” says McLean.

“In 10 of the incidents, alcohol and drugs were a factor. Charges were laid in 13 of the assault/firearms investigations. Thirteen males and two females were charged.”

There were eight sexual assault offences, with charges laid in four of the cases.

Two of the incidents involved victims who were under the age of 16.

Property crime is down 4%, though OPP did see a rise in incidents during the months of March and April, in part due to an increase in theft cases.

“Twelve of the 27 theft occurrences were shoplifting incidents,” says McLean.

“One business was the victim in four separate occurrences. In two incidents, the victims had parcels stolen from the doorstep. These are the doorstep deliveries that people are targeting residences or businesses.”

Six of the investigations resulted in charges being laid.

OPP also investigated eight fraud cases, with victims losing money in four incidents.

“In two cases, bank cards were fraudulently used. Four cases involved what I would classify as cyber computer crime,” says McLean.

Another case involved a person who used a taxi service but did not pay.

There have been six drug cases in the first four months of the year, two involving trafficking and four for possession.

Quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine were seized.