Today’s targeted traffic enforcement
The North Bay Police Service’s traffic officer, working in partnership with patrol officers, conducted a targeted traffic enforcement this morning on the Cst. Fred Lefebvre overpass from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
The results are as follows:
33 speeding tickets issued (most were over 70 km/hr; the highest speed registered at 79 km/hr);
three 72-hour notices issued for documentation (drivers have 72 hours to show police their insurance card or driver’s permit).
Motorists are reminded that the speed limit on the overpass is 50 km/hr.
Police alert public to letter scams
The North Bay Police Service wishes to alert the public of two letter scams that have recently been reported to police. There were no victims.
“Publishers Clearing House” Scam Letter
The first scam involves a letter that is addressed to the resident. It informs the recipient that he/she is the winner of a $600,000 US grand prize from Publishers Clearing House. The letter includes a fraudulent “sponsorship” cheque for over $9,000. The letter informs the reader that they must call a number to claim the cash prize. Do not fall victim to this scam! Police advise those who receive this letter to destroy the letter and do not respond. Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website.
Inheritance Scam Letter
The second scam involves a letter that is addressed to the resident claiming they may be entitled to millions of dollars in inheritance money because he/she shares the last name of a millionaire who recently passed away. Do not fall victim. Remember: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or online at: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Local man faces charges for child luring, sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching
Following an investigation into a sexual assault complaint reported to police on April 3, 2016, North Bay Police arrested:
Tyler Charles Loucks, age 23, of North Bay, at police headquarters on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 and charged him with:
Two counts of sexual assault on a person under 16 years of age;
Two counts of sexual interference with a person under 16 years of age;
One count of luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication; and
One count of invitation to sexual touching with a person under 16 years of age.
It is alleged that sometime in January or February 2016, the accused and a female victim met through Whisper, a free mobile app where users post anonymous messages in the form of text overlaid on a picture and network through a public anonymous post or a private pseudonymous chat. After several days of chatting through the app, the accused arranged to meet the victim at a local coffee shop. Later, and on two separate occasions, he invited her to his apartment, where he sexually assaulted her. It is also alleged that on March 10, 2016, the accused sent several sexually explicit text messages to the victim.
The accused was held in custody for a bail hearing.
Acknowledgement
The Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet is a project that has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. The North Bay Police Service acknowledges this assistance as well as that of the Ontario Provincial Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit and other police services across the province who work together to investigate crimes against children over the internet.
Help is available
If you are aware of a child at immediate risk of online sexual assault or exploitation, call 9-1-1 immediately or call the North Bay Police Service at 705-497-5555. If you find child pornography online or believe that a child is being targeted by an online predator, report the offence to www.cybertip.ca. If you would like tips on child internet safety as well as age-appropriate resources follow the useful links at www.cybertip.ca.
Safety messages from Whisper
On Whisper’s website can be found guidelines for parents/guardians and teens regarding online safety. For details, visit: http://support.whisper.sh/customer/en/portal/articles/2396167-whisper-x-fosi-on-internet-safety.
The views expressed in this media release are those of the North Bay Police Service and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
