Male arrested by Kingston Police Canine Unit after multiple thefts in west end

Kingston Police say they have arrested a suspect in a string of thefts in Kingston’s west end.

“On December 31, 2020 at approximately 7:10 a.m. a resident of a west end neighbourhood discovered that the door to his detached garage was open and he could hear someone inside. The resident entered the garage and observed the male accused holding some of his belongings and further observed that various items including tools that had previously been kept in the garage were now, inexplicably, piled along his fence line,” said Kingston Police Media Relations Officer Ash Gutheinz in a press release.

According to Gutheinz, the resident attempted to prevent the suspect from leaving while his partner contacted police, however an altercation ensued and the suspect was able to flee from the scene. Gutheinz says the resident observed that his neighbour’s garage was also open with tools and a generator, which had been kept in the garage, now piled outside as well. 

“Kingston Police responded to the scene as the resident pursued the accused through the neighbourhood. Upon police arrival, in the area of Lakeview Avenue and Hyde Street, the resident indicated that he believed that the accused was hiding in a back yard or in someone’s garage,” said Gutheinz.

Kingston Police Officer Jeff Dickson and his Canine Unit partner were dispatched to the scene and began to track the movements of the accused. 

Shortly after the track had been initiated, the suspect was discovered by the Canine Unit hiding in the rear yard of a home on Hyde Street, behind a children’s pool and some garbage bins. At approximately 8:15 a.m., said Gutheinz, the accused was arrested and taken into custody.

A subsequent search of the male revealed that he had stolen photo identification, a cheque, and a credit card in his possession belonging to four separate individuals. A further search of the suspect’s pants pockets revealed a small baggy containing a black granular substance, which police suspect to be heroin.

The suspect, a 26-year-old local man, was subsequently transported to police headquarters where he was held to attend a future bail hearing.

He is charged with two counts of theft under $5000, five counts of possession under $5000 and unlawful possession of a schedule 1 substance.