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Friday, April 22, 2016

Two face weapon charges

Following an ongoing Street Crime investigation, the North Bay Police Service arrested and charged two people on the 400 block of Main Street West at about 6:30 p.m. yesterday, on Thursday, April 21, 2016.

James Joseph Hendry, age 33 of North Bay was charged with:
two counts of careless storage of firearm;
one count of careless storage of ammunition;
two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm;
two counts of possession of firearm contrary to prohibition order;
one count of possession of ammunition contrary to prohibition order;
one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and
one count of possession of schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking.

A female teenager, whose name the North Bay Police Service is withholding in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with:
two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm;
three counts of careless storage of a firearm or ammunition; and
one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Police searched Hendry and located and seized as evidence:
5.6 grams of crack cocaine with a street value estimated at $700.

Police searched the young person’s vehicle and seized as evidence:
188 rounds of 22 calibre ammunition;
a loaded semi-automatic 22 calibre rifle; and
an unloaded 303 calibre rifle.

Hendry was held in custody pending bail, while the young person was released from custody with a court date scheduled for June 1, 2016.

Man faces assault and mischief charges

Following an investigation into an assault complaint reported to police yesterday afternoon, North Bay Police arrested and charged:

Victor Manuel Catarino, age 48, of North Bay was charged with:
one count of assault with a weapon;
one count of assault; and
one count of mischief under $5,000.

It is alleged at about 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2016 in a residential home in North Bay, an argument between the accused and a male victim known to him turned violent when the accused assaulted him with a wooden dowel, physically struck him and later caused damaged to two televisions within the residence.

The victim did not require medical attention as a result of the injuries sustained during the altercation. The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Unsolved Missing Person Investigation: Russell Hoffert disappeared sixteen years ago

On Friday, April 7, 2000 shortly after at 10 p.m., Russell Hoffert, a voluntary patient of the former North Bay Psychiatric Hospital, was reported missing to police. As part of a continuing series of media conferences on the North Bay Police Service’s unsolved missing person and homicide investigations, the NBPS invited the media to Bomarc Road off Hwy 11 this morning at the location where Russell Hoffert was last seen sixteen years ago.

“Russell Hoffert was 34 years old on the day he walked away from the hospital grounds wearing only a blue long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and running shoes,” said Inspector Kirk Kelusky, North Bay Police Service. “The weather was cold, in the -10 degree range, with a wind chill below 20 degrees and blowing and drifting snow.”

Patrol and Emergency Response Team officers of the North Bay Police Service, with the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police’s canine unit and helicopter and the Anishnabek Police’s four-wheelers, searched the road and surrounding wooded areas as well as a nearby gravel pit. Area residents were also canvassed in attempts to gain more information from potential witnesses. Unfortunately, the three-day search led to negative results. Today, his case file remains open and unsolved. There is no evidence to suggest foul play.

Russell Hoffert is described as:
an Aboriginal male
was 34 years old at the time (would be 50 today)
brown eyes
curly black hair
with a scar on his abdomen
5’-7”
183 lbs
slender build
wearing a blue, long-sleeved shirt, running shoes and blue jeans on the day he went missing.

Anyone with information that may assist police with this investigation is asked to contact investigating officer D/Cst. Greg McClenaghan at the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555.