A conservation officer was assaulted after he caught someone with an illegal fish.
On the afternoon of April 3, members from the Sudbury OPP responded to an assault complaint involving a Conservation Officer (CO) from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The CO was conducting compliance checks on fishermen on George Alaska Lake in Moncrieff Township, north of the City of Greater Sudbury. He found that a man had possession of an illegal fish caught out of season.
The individuals packed their belongings and returned to their vehicle. The men returned to the CO’s location a short time later where he was assaulted, but not injured. The men stole the officer’s ticket book and snow machine key and fled the area in a pickup truck.
At 3:20 p.m., OPP officers saw the truck travelling southbound on Highway 144 and stopped it.
Four men were arrested and charged.
Gary St-Jean, 45 years of age, from Garson was arrested and charged with:
- Assault a peace officer,
- Obstruct peace officer,
- Theft under $5,000,– two counts
- Catch by angling and retaining fish during closed season, contrary to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
Steven Friel, 42, from Garson was arrested and charged with:
- Assault a peace officer,
- Obstruct peace officer,
- Theft under $5000, contrary to the Criminal Code – two counts
Alex Friel, 19, from Garson, was arrested and charged with:
- Assault a peace officer,
- Obstruct peace officer,
- Theft under $5,000, – two counts
The three will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury, on May 11, to answer to their charges.
A fourth man was released unconditionally.
