Two people face theft and other charges following an investigation into a series of thefts of copper wire from Hydro One substations in Minden Hills Township earlier this year.
According to Haliburton Highlands OPP, between Aug. 25 and Sept, 5, officers investigated three separate incidents of theft of copper wire from substations. The value of the theft is $7,000.
Police say on Sept. 14, OPP located a suspect vehicle in Minden. However, the theft fled the scene and officers did not pursuit the vehicle due to public safety concerns.
On Sept. 26, an officer attended a call for trespassing at a Minden residence. The officer located a man and woman inside a vehicle on the property. It’s alleged the vehicle fled, striking the police cruiser.
Again, no further attempts were made to stop the vehicle due to public safety concerns.
On Sept. 28, with assistance from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, two suspects were located in Sault Ste. Marie and were arrested.
Nicholas Salloum, 25, of Gatineau, Que., and Kariann Lesagae, 21, of no fixed address, were charged with:
- Assaulting a peace officer
- Flight from a peace officer (two counts for Salloum)
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (two counts for Salloum)
- Failure to stop after an accident (two counts for Salloum)
- Mischief endangering life (two counts for Salloum)
Salloum was additionally charged with three counts of break and enter a place and one count of obstructing a peace officer.
Salloum remains in custody pending a bail hearing, while Lesagae was released and will appear in court in Minden on Nov. 3.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Haliburton Highlands OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).