NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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On Feb. 16, 2022 shortly after 9:30 p.m. members of the South Porcupine Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call for a theft in Lusk Township near Highway 655.
Preliminary investigation revealed that two individuals were suspected of stealing a number of items before fleeing on a motorized snow vehicle (MSV).
A short time after, the MSV was observed by police and got stuck in a snowbank. The individuals were immediately arrested by police and the property was recovered.
A search incident to arrest revealed a quantity of a suspected controlled substance.
The driver, Bryan Laporte, a 48-year-old resident of Timmins, has been charged with:
- Possession break in instruments, contrary to section 351(1) of the Criminal Code (CC)
- Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000 - in Canada, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the CC
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking - methamphetamine, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA)
- Driving while under suspension, contrary to section 53(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
- Drive motorized snow vehicle, trail permit not issued, contrary to section 2.1(1) of the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act (MSVA)
- Drive - no insurance, contrary to section 12(1) of the MSVA
- Fail to notify change of ownership, contrary to section 3(3) of the MSVA
The accused was released by way of an undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on March 31, 2022, in the City of Timmins.
The passenger was released unconditionally.
The South Porcupine OPP would like to remind the public, to report all suspicious activity to police. Try to obtain as much information as possible while assuring your safety, and do not interfere with the crime scene.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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