Prince Edward OPP have charged an 18-year-old male and charges are pending on a second individual in relation to a break and enter in Prince Edward County last weekend.

On the Civic Holiday Weekend officers at the Prince Edward Detachment investigated two break and enters to two area businesses.

On Fri. Aug. 2, the OPP received a report just before 11:30 a.m. of a Main St. business in Picton that was broken into sometime overnight. Officers investigated and found that there was nothing stolen, however, over $2,500 worth of property was vandalized.

The following day around 10:30 a.m. an officer attended to a business on County Rd 18 in Athol Ward where a second report of a break and enter overnight had occurred.

An investigation determined that a safe containing over $1,000 in Canadian currency was stolen.

OPP Forensic Identification Unit (FIS) members attended to both scenes for examination.

On Aug. 12  Prince Edward OPP continued their investigation and two male suspects were identified in relation to the first incident.

As a result, Daniel Geertsma, 18, from Prince Edward County, Ontario has been charged with the following offences in relation to the Aug. 2 break and enter:

•  Break and Enter a place – indictable offence – 348(1)(b) Criminal Code
• Mischief under $5,000 – destroy or damage property – 430(10(a) Criminal Code
• Fail to comply – probation order – 139(1) – Youth Criminal Justice Act

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Picton on Wed.,  Sept. 18.

Charges are pending in the first break and enter against a second male, age 13,  who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

There are no updates to report on the second incident and the investigation is continuing.

OPP are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the OPP Provincial Communications Centre at 1 – 888 – 310 – 1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1 – 800 – 222 – 8477(TIPS).

In other local police reports, OPP have laid charges in relation to a road rage incident that took place just outside of Picton on Monday. 

Officers at the Prince Edward County detachment investigated a fail to remain / pedestrian collision on that resulted in a suspect vehicle being located and a male arrested.

Between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. Prince Edward County OPP received three calls regarding a pedestrian being struck by a white minivan and the vehicle had left the location on Loyalist Parkway near the No-Frills Plaza in Hallowell Ward.

Police determined through investigation that the collision was a result of a road-rage event on the Loyalist Parkway that occurred just prior to a 38-year-old male being struck in the parking lot of the plaza.

The male victim declined medical attention after receiving minor injuries.

The suspect and vehicle were later located at a construction site on Treasure Cove Lane in Athol Ward.

Lindsay’s Jason Tarso, 35, has been charged with one count of Dangerous Driving – Section 320.13(1) Criminal Code.

The accused was released to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice on Wed.,  Sept. 25, at Picton’s Ontario Court of Justice.

-Staff