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OPP cruiser Jan 6 2026

Violent crime stats show early increase in parts of Rainy River District

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It has been a busy start to the year for Provincial Police in the western portion of the Rainy River District.

OPP report 278 charges were laid for various infractions during the first two months.

Traffic-related charges are down, though OPP did nab 8 motorists for impaired driving.

Police also responded to 25 motor vehicle collisions, none involving any serious injuries or fatalities.

Incidents of violent crime are up.

The 48 incidents are a 23% increase over the same period last year.

More than two-thirds of the cases were assaults or firearm-related, which shows a nearly 18% increase.

At the same time, incidents of property crime are down almost 30% over last winter.

OPP Winter

Provincial police making presence known around Rainy River District schools

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The Ontario Provincial Police have become more visible at area schools.

This includes in-school visits and patrols around schools.

OPP Staff Sergeant Derrick McLean says they are scheduling officers to ensure every school in the Rainy River District is visited at least once during the week.

“Every day, we focus on three schools specifically where we want to see those patrols take place,” says McLean.

“By doing that throughout the district, it spreads them out, so in any given week, every school has been visited by the officers.”

More than 13.5 hours of school patrols were recorded over the last two months.

McLean suspects the number is actually much higher, as officers may still be getting adjusted to the need to accurately record their time when they are at the schools.

Not all of the police presence is for safety reasons inside the school.

McLean says officers are also focusing attention on what is happening away from the school grounds.

“Maybe it’s a case where we’ve had something like an issue with maybe kiss and ride and traffic there. So maybe not specifically in the school, but the officers are kind of monitoring.”

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OPP seeks owners of items seized in drug bust

Officers from the Marathon OPP arrested five individuals in a drug bust last month, and are looking to return stolen property obtained by the search.

Anyone who has been a victim of a theft or has any information regarding theft from the Marathon, Manitouwadge, Terrace Bay and Schrieber areas are advised to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Three men and two women from three north shore communities (Marathon, Terrace Bay and Schrieber) have been charged with possession of cocaine. The five individuals were between the ages of 32 and 45.

The accused are scheduled to appear before the court in Marathon at a later date.

Seized Items

Two handguns seized in Thunder Bay drug bust

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A large-scale drug trafficking investigation by the OPP’s Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team has led to another arrest.

Two handguns and 17g of cocaine were seized from the May Street home of a 52-year old Thunder Bay man on March 11.

He is charged with drug trafficking and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. He was held for a bail hearing and is scheduled to appear before the courts on Friday.

This arrest is part of a larger intelligence-led investigation into Thunder Bay drug trafficking that started this month.

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Police seek public help in fatal Highway 11/17 crash

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The Nipigon OPP is asking anyone who witnessed the fatal snowmobile collision on Highway 11/17 to come forward with information to assist the ongoing investigation.

If you were travelling along Highway 11/17 near the Brennan Ford Dealership in Nipigon Tuesday morning and you have dashcam footage available or any additional information to share, please contact the Nipigon OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or submit anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Police have also confirmed the youth deceased in the crash was driving the snowmobile.

a blue and white street sign sitting on the side of a road

Thunder Bay man arrested for drunk driving with child aboard

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A 45-year old man from Thunder Bay is facing drunk driving charges after failing a breathalyzer test with a child in his vehicle.

The man was pulled over during a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) stop at the intersection of Mount Baldy Road & Highway 527, within the Municipality of Shuniah.

He is charged with the following:

  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus);
  • Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs;
  • Fail to Provide Necessaries of Life – Child or Spouse;

The accused has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear before court in late April.

The OPP’s RIDE program is an anti-impaired driving blitz, featuring around-the-clock spot checks and granting officers the authority to demand roadside breath samples without reasonable suspicion.

siu

SIU investigating fatal police shooting north of Kenora

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A 39-year old man is dead after an altercation with Kenora OPP officers.

The provincial Special Investigations Unit is investigating the incident.

Police say they responded to a call about a man in distress in the Ena Lake area around 6 pm Monday night. He was armed with a knife.

According to police, officers fired their tasers after an unsuccessful attempt at negotiation. Multiple officers then shot their firearms at the man.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS responders.

The SIU encourages anyone with information about the investigation to contact their lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.

Close-up. Arrested man handcuffed

Bail violation investigation leads to drug charge

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Thunder Bay OPP has seized suspected fentanyl and hydromorphone after stopping a 41-year old Dryden man for violating his bail conditions.

The accused faces the following charges:

  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – other drugs
  • Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – opioid
  • Failure to comply with release order (2)

The accused was scheduled to appear before a court on Tuesday.

Thunder Bay Police Cruiser

Thunder Bay woman faces charges after drug bust

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The Thunder Bay Police Service is laying drug trafficking charges on a 55-year old Thunder Bay woman after officers seized cocaine and fentanyl from a house on Margaret Street.

She is facing the following charges:

• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
• Failure to comply with release order

Two others in the home were arrested as well. The second suspect has been released with a future court date.

thunder bay police cruiser winter

Man faces stunt driving charges in Nipigon

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A 44-year old male is facing a stunt driving charge after travelling 116km/h in a 70km/h zone.

The Regina man was pulled over by the Nipigon Detachment of the OPP Saturday around noon.

He received a 30-day license suspension and 14-day vehicle impoundment.

The OPP says they remain committed to taking aggressive drivers off our roads through enforcement and public education. If you suspect that someone is driving aggressively, call 9-1-1 to report it.

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