$150K Fraud in Kingston & Officer & Wife Raising Funds for Rez 64 Girls Hockey 030718

 

Police Bulletin

Calls for Service

Kingston Police had 149 calls for service during the 24 hour period starting from 5:00 a.m. on March 6, 2018. Of these, 107 calls occurred in the city central area, 25 in the west end, 3 in the east end, and 5 north of Highway 401. Some of these included:

  • 1 domestic call
  • 1 assault call
  • 3 harassment calls
  • 2 fight/disturbance calls
  • 4 undesirable calls
  • 1 drunk call
  • 1 customer trouble call
  • 1 custody dispute call
  • 2 alarm calls
  • 1 neighbour dispute call
  • 2 noise complaints
  • 1 trouble with kids call
  • 3 missing person calls
  • 1 Mental Health Act call
  • 3 medical assist calls
  • 15 assist citizen calls
  • 1 break and enter call
  • 12 theft calls
  • 2 shoplifting calls
  • 6 motor vehicle collisions
  • 2 parking/vehicle complaints
  • 5 driving complaints
  • 1 traffic concern
  • 6 suspicious activity calls
  • 1 drug call

There were 7 individuals arrested within the last 24 hours including 4 men and 3 women, between 16 and 58 years of age, for the following: assault, theft, attempt theft, utter threats, fraud over $5000, and possession of stolen property over $5000.

Residents are encouraged to view the Kingston Police Crime Mapping Tool that can be accessed through the website here. To further community awareness and improve accessibility to calls-for-police-service occurring in the community, Kingston Police has merged Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology with police calls-for-service data for user-friendly public consumption.

Woman Charged after Police Investigate $150,000 Fraud

Release Date: March 7, 2018

16-35706

A 27-year-old Toronto woman has been charged by Kingston Police for defrauding a Kingston woman of just over $150,000 through her financial investment firm.

On September 22, 2016 the complaints financial advisor received an email from the accused posing as the complainant. At that time the accused simply requested a balance on the complaints investments. In October and November 2016 the advisor acted on instructions in additional emails sent by the accused posing as the complaint, and subsequently transferred over $150,000 to a specific bank account.

On November 21, 2016 the advisor contacted the complaint by phone in regards to another email request to transfer funds. At this time the fraud was then discovered and police were contacted. Kingston Police Fraud Unit Detectives began an investigation that eventually resulted in identifying the accused, a Toronto woman.

On March 6, 2018 the accused turned herself in at Kingston police headquarters. The accused was charged with fraud over $5000, and possession of stolen property over $5000.

March in fraud prevention month and this incident provides a good example of how important it is to be cautious and never rush when making any type of financial transaction. Take the time to verify information and never pay something immediately upon being contacted by someone over the phone or through email.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has some good information on how you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud. http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/protectyourself-protegezvous/index-eng.htm

#FraudPreventionMonth #CrimePreventionONT



Youth Arrested after Threat on Social Media

Release Date: March 7, 2018

18-8035

A 16-year-old Harrowsmith youth has been charged after sending a threatening message to another teenager.

On March 1, 2018 the victim received a text message from the accused whom she had only recently met. The accused believed the victim had hacked into her Facebook page and made unwanted posts. The accused threatened to have the victim charged and became belligerent with her. The victim blocked the accused from further messaging, however the accused found the victim on another social media platform and began sending more messages.

On March 5, 2018 the victim contacted police after the accused sent a message threatening to come to her house and kill everyone.

On March 6, 2018 the accused attended police headquarters with her mother. The accused was arrested and then later released with a future court date.

The accused was charged with utter threats to cause death.

Police wish to remind everyone that threatening or harassing someone through social media or messaging is a criminal offence, the same as doing it in person. If you have a disagreement or dispute with someone, take time to think before making posts or sending messages out of anger, consequences may include being arrested, charged criminally and going to court.

Suspended Driver Arrested and Held for Bail

Release Date: March 7, 2018

18-8048

A 26-year-old local man was arrested and held for bail after repeatedly driving while suspended.

On March 6, 2018 at approximately 11:30 a.m. a patrol officer observed the accused driving on Montreal Street with an expired licence plate validation. The officer stopped the accused as he turned into a driveway to investigate.

The officer learned the accused was unlicenced and records checks revealed the accused was found to be on two driving suspensions, and on a provincial offences probation order for driving while suspended. Further investigation revealed the licence plates had been reported missing and did not belong to the vehicle.

The accused was arrested and transported to police headquarters where he was held to attend a bail hearing the following day.

The accused was charged under the Highway Traffic Act with use plate unauthorized for vehicle, driver motor vehicle with expired validation, drive motor vehicle while suspended, and breach of probation.

Kingston Police Officer Raising Funds for First Nation Girls’ Hockey Team

With support from Kingston Police and the Kingston Police Association an officer and his wife are attempting to raise funds to support a Northern Ontario First Nation girls’ hockey team as they travel all the way to the Ottawa area to compete in a local tournament.

Constable Steve Koopman and his wife, Katie Koopman, were moved by a documentary highlighting the challenges faced by the ‘Rez Girls 64’ Wolves Peewee hockey team from Eabametoong First Nation, also known as Fort Hope, which is a remote, fly-in reserve in Northern Ontario. The team and their coaching staff struggled to find ice time, obtain equipment and funding to travel to a tournament in Thunder Bay but were ultimately successful. Their story can be found on CBC Radio’s ‘The Doc Project’ here: https://goo.gl/C2LQKZ

However, their next task was to raise funds to fly all the way to Ottawa, confirm accommodation, and participate in the 35th Kanata Girls Hockey Association House League Tournament occurring March 23-25, 2018. Thankfully, and only until recently, the team once again received the funding needed to participate.

Steve Koopman states, “After hearing coverage of the Rez Girls’ journey, and thoroughly moved by the determination of the young women leading this team to have their players experience what we all want for our children, we reached out to offer assistance relating to our photography background and document their time in Ottawa and at the tournament. The team accepted and we are honoured to attend. We are donating our time, photography experience, and covering all our own personal costs during the long weekend. We have separately fundraised enough to order metallic sports prints for each of the girls, obtained gift certificates and donations to assist with some visiting costs, and found space to have a get-together party for them one evening in Ottawa.

“However, we felt there was one last thing that could put this over the top. This is where we are asking the local Kingston community, and hopefully even further abroad, to help raise funds to send these girls to an event many of us in Southern Ontario take for granted, namely an NHL hockey game, which we believe to be a first for all of them. Specifically, when they arrive in Ottawa and just prior to the girls’ own tournament commencing, the Ottawa Senators will be playing against the Edmonton Oilers on March 22. We have reached out to the Senators’ group booking office and they have been kind enough to reserve 40 tickets for the girls, coaching staff and parent chaperones while we attempt to raise $3,000 in funds. We want to thank and acknowledge the Kingston Police Association for a generous donation to get the momentum rolling, and also the Kingston Police administration for supporting this initiative. If we are fortunate enough to exceed our goal then any additional funds will go to assist the team’s next tournament.

“We believe many Canadians acknowledge the disparity in living conditions, opportunities, and experiences found between some communities and that of First Nation reserves, especially those in more remote northern regions. This story of a small but tenacious group has inspired us to make their journey and stay in Ottawa a truly memorable one. We want to thank in advance all of those who are so generous to participate in this endeavour to ensure these wonderful and resilient young girls have the opportunity of a lifetime to see a professional hockey game in our nation’s capital and to inspire them forward in their passion for sport, camaraderie, independence, and optimism.”

For those wishing to donate the link to the GoFundMe page can be found here: https://www.gofundme.com/rezgirls64sensgame

Questions and those seeking additional information can contact Cst. Steve Koopman via email at skoopman@kingstonpolice.ca.

All photos provided by Leslie Campbell

2 Comments

  1. you know the word Rez is a pejorative term right?

  2. Author

    And if you actually read the piece you’ll see I’m quoting from the release.

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