OPP lay dozens of drug- and property-offence charges in Amherstview

The Lennox and Addington Detachment (L&A) of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid a litany of charges against four men believed to be responsible for over 24 incidents in Amherstview over the past few weeks.

The drug- and property-related charges come as the result of a continuing OPP investigation into property crimes in Amherstivew. The OPP have been investigating a series of property-related crimes that have occurred in Amherstview and the surrounding areas. These crimes include thefts from vehicles, residential and business break-ins, and a break in at Amherstview Golf Club.

According to the OPP, on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, the investigation led police to an apartment complex on Amherst Drive, where a search warrant was executed on one of the units. Inside the apartment, police arrested four men – one of whom was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant – and seized evidence relating to a number of incidents involved in the investigation.

“Investigators believe that, collectively, the accused parties have been responsible for roughly two dozen occurrences in and around Amherstview in recent weeks,” the L&A OPP said in a press release on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019.

As a result, the four men were arrested and charged with the following:

Paul Woods, 47, has been charged with:

• Possession of break-in instruments
• Fraud under $5,000
• Using a stolen credit card
• Three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of methamphetamine
• 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime

Matthew Villeneuve, 56, has been charged with:

• Possession of break-in instruments
• Three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Three counts of failing to comply with a probation order
• 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime

Derek Rattie, 43, has been charged with:

• Possession of break-in instruments
• Three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime

Marcus Pye-Condie, 19, has been charged with

• Possession of break-in instruments
• Three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking
• Three counts of failing to comply with a youth sentence
• 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime

All four accused men were held in police custody following their arrests, and appeared in the Ontario Court of Justice on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.