CALLANDER — North Bay Police Chief Scott Tod had a tough time composing himself during a short press conference at North Bay Police Headquarters.
The chief felt compelled, with support from the Lavigne family, to speak out about the break and enter at Callander mayor Hec Lavigne's home only hours after his death in hospital on Monday morning.
"I've known the Lavigne family for a long time as we have lived near each other for many years," said Tod.
"As Police Chief, I am just angered by the fact that this crime is committed in our community and that criminals took advantage of an opportunity when a family was going through some severe time of sorrow and grief. In the infancy of that, someone breaks into the house, trashes their house and steals property from them."
Tod says the family is devastated to find the home damaged.
"They are in their time of grief right now but it has been made more severe as a result of this break and enter along with the damage done to the home," said
"The family arrived home from Sudbury to a home that had been broken into and severely damaged. Property crimes are typically hard for victims to deal with, but the fact these people took advantage of a tragic situation to commit a criminal offence is particularly heinous."
A police source told BayToday about the break and enter earlier in the day and this afternoon police have released more information about what was stolen along with the three arrests relating to the incident.
See related: Hec Lavigne's home broken into only hours after his death
See related: Callander Mayor Hec Lavigne passes away
"It is alleged that in the early morning hours of January 6th 2020 two accused attended the Hector Lavigne residence in Callander when it was unoccupied due to a family emergency," the police stated in a release.
"One accused entered the residence where property was stolen including credit cards and other household items. Furnishings within the residence were also damaged.
"The police investigation identified the three accused persons who were located and arrested in the early evening of January 6th, 2020. Following the arrests, a search warrant was granted and entry into (a North Bay residence) resulted in the recovery of the stolen property."
Police also seized from the residence as a result of the search warrant:
- 5236 suspected methamphetamine pills valued at $26,180.
- 251.2 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine valued at $20,120.
- 168.5 grams of suspected cocaine valued at $21,062.
- three non-restricted firearms
- one prohibited firearm
- one prohibited sharp-edged weapon
- $3,400 dollars in cash
A 30-year-old man from North Bay has been arrested and charged with:
- Break and enter
- Mischief under $5,000
- Seven counts of possession of for the purpose of trafficking a substance
- Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime
- Possession of the proceeds of property obtained by crime
- Possession of a prohibited device
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon
- Unsafe storage of a firearm
- Possession of a forged document.
A 28-year-old woman from North Bayhas been arrested and charged with:
- Trafficking a controlled substance
- Break and enter
A 24-year-old man from Powassan has been arrested and charged with;
- Break and enter
Police also seized from the 30-year-old man a Toyota Corolla they allege was used in the distribution of illicit drugs.
The 28-year-old woman and the 24-year-old man charged in the case have both been released from police custody and will appear in the North Bay Courthouse on February 18 to answer to their charges. The 30-year-old suspect remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
