Category: Elgin

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Darren HAMDEN Was Arrested Again

(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – Elgin OPP investigating a collision that sent on-duty officer to hospital with serious injuries.

On July 20, 2025, at 10:45 a.m., a member of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Highway Safety division (HSD), observed a suspicious vehicle travelling on Highway 3 in Elgin County, at which time a traffic stop was initiated. 

During the investigation, the driver of the vehicle fled the scene, striking the officer.

As a result, members of the Elgin County OPP and Medavie-Elgin EMS were dispatched to the scene to assist.

The officer was transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Highway 3 was closed between Centennial Avenue and First Avenue as a result.

The driver of the suspect vehicle was later located by members of the Elgin OPP and taken into custody.

As a result, Darren HAMDEN a 40-year-old of London, has been charged under the Criminal Code with:

  • Dangerous Operation causing bodily harm
  • Flight from peace officer
  • Resist Peace Officer
  • Assault with intent to resist arrest
  • Personation with intent to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice (Identity fraud)
  • Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court (two counts)

The accused was held for bail.

The Elgin OPP can be contacted anywhere, anytime at 1-888-310-1122.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Elgin-Middlesex Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000. 

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Port Burwell Beach Closed To Search For Missing Swimmer

(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – Elgin OPP close Port Burwell beach to search for missing swimmer. 

On June 22, 2025, at 3:05 p.m., members of the Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Medavie EMS, Bayham Fire and Central Elgin Fire, were dispatched to Port Burwell beach in the Municipality of Bayham for the report of two swimmers in distress.

Investigation revealed two individuals found themselves in distress while swimming in Lake Erie. One swimmer was pulled to safety and transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The second individual failed to resurface.

Members of the Elgin County OPP closed Port Burwell beach in an effort to search for the missing individual.

Members of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton, along with members of the Elgin OPP continue to search for the missing swimmer.

Updates will be provided when available.

The investigation is continuing, the Elgin OPP can be reached at 1-888-310-1122. 

If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.   

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Eric SEGUIN Arrested Following Fire

(ELGIN, ON) – The Leeds County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged an individual in connection with a suspicious fire in the village of Elgin.

On Saturday, May 10, 2025 at approximately 12:00 p.m., Leeds OPP and Rideau Lakes Fire Department responded to a fire at an uninhabited single-family home in the village of Elgin. No injuries were reported.

As a result of the investigation by Leeds OPP members and Leeds County OPP Crime Unit, 34 year-old Eric SEGUIN of North Glengarry has been charged with:

  • Arson – damage to property
  • Break, enter dwelling house – commit indictable offence
  • Break, enter a place – commit indictable offence
  • Theft under $5,000

The accused has been remanded into custody.

If you have any witness information to provide, such as dashcam footage or home security footage, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave your tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Assault & Trafficking – Evan SARAZIN

(ELGIN, ON) – Members of the Leeds County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a serious head-on collision on Highway 15 which sent both drivers to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The investigation is still ongoing, and numerous charges have been laid against one of the passengers.

On Friday, May 2, 2025, at noon, multiple reports of a two-vehicle head-on collision on Highway 15 near the village of Elgin were received. Members of Leeds OPP attended the scene of the crash and determined an initial vehicle had two adult occupants, whereas the other vehicle had two adult occupants and one infant. With the assistance of the Rideau Lakes Fire Department and Leeds and Grenville Paramedic Services, the two drivers were transported to a regional trauma centre for reported life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, all three passengers did not sustain any substantial injuries.

The Leeds County OPP Crime Unit, OPP Reconstructionists, and OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators are currently assisting with the investigation.

Both drivers are in critical but stable condition and remain in hospital.

The passenger of the initial vehicle refused to provide their identity following a legal demand. During a vehicle search, members of Leeds OPP located a knife, approximately eight grams of suspected cocaine, and other items often related to drugs.

As a result of the investigation, 39 year-old Evan SARAZIN of Ottawa is charged with:

  • Obstruct peace officer
  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking
  • Assault

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville on June 13, 2025.

The investigation is ongoing, and driving-related charges are pending for the driver of the initial vehicle as a result of the collision.

If you have any witness information to provide, such as dashcam footage, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave your tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Fatal Collision

(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – An individual is deceased following a two-vehicle collision involving a passenger vehicle and commercial motor vehicle in the Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich.

On March 21, 2025, at approximately 3:30 a.m., members of the Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Fire and Emergency Services, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a collision at Highway 401 near Currie Road, Municipality of Dutton-Dunwich.

The collision involved a passenger vehicle that collided with a Commercial Motor Vehicle. The early investigation indicates the passenger vehicle was travelling eastbound in the westbound lanes of the highway.

The driver of the passenger vehicle, a 25-year-old from London, was transported by EMS and later pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

The driver/lone occupant of the commercial motor vehicle, reported no injuries.

The identity of the deceased individual will not be released out of respect for the family’s privacy.

The Elgin OPP with the assistance West Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) Team continue to investigate the collision.

Highway 401 westbound lanes at Currie Road will be closed for an undetermined amount of time to allow for investigation.

If you have any information that can help investigators, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2000.

Categories
Elgin Police Press Releases

$100,000 Drug Bust

(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – On March 18, 2025 at approximately 5:00 a.m. the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Elgin-Middlesex Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) in collaboration with the St. Thomas Police Service Street Crime Unit assisted by the West Region Tactics and Rescue Unit (WR TRU), the West Region Canine Unit (WR K9), the Oxford-Brant CSCU, the Lambton CSCU, the Haldimand-Norfolk CSCU, the Essex CSCU and the West Region Emergency Response Team (WR ERT) executed search warrants at two residences in the City of London and one in the City of St. Thomas.

As a result of the executed search warrants, police seized quantities of suspected narcotics including cocaine, psilocybin, oxycodone, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and clonazepam with an estimated street value of over $100,000.00. Police also seized a quantity of property including scales, cellular phones, packaging (bags, elastics), magazines, ammunition, and over $45,000.00 Canadian Currency.

Four individuals were taken into custody.

The OPP has charged Kyle Catherwood, a 30-year-old from London with:

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
  • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 – in Canada
  • Possession of Firearm or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order
  • Possession of Prohibited Device or Ammunition
  • Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Opioid (other than heroin)
  • Possession of a Schedule III Substance

The OPP also charged Mariah King, a 29-year-old from London with:

  • Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (Cocaine)
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 – in Canada
  • Laundering Proceeds of Crime – did use – commission in Canada
  • Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Opioid (other than heroin)
  • Possession of a Schedule III Substance
  • Possession of Prohibited Device or ammunition

Additionally, the OPP charged Cody Gregory, a 34-year-old of the City of St. Thomas with:

  • Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Cocaine
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 – in Canada
  • Fail to Comply with Release Order – other than to attend court
  • Distribute Intimate Image without Consent

All accused individuals were held for bail hearings and have since been remanded into custody. The fourth individual was released unconditionally.

The OPP would like to thank the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) for their assistance in this investigation.

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Rollover Into Hwy 15 Ditch Sends One To Hospital

(ELGIN, ON) – The Leeds County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continues to investigate a single vehicle rollover where the driver was transported to hospital for serious injuries.

On December 15, 2024, just after 9:00 a.m., members of the Leeds OPP received reports of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 15, just south of Bush Road.

The 63 year-old driver from Carleton Place was transported to hospital, the passenger, a 26 year-old from Carleton Place, was assessed on-scene for minor injuries.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Leeds OPP was assisted by the OPP Collision Reconstructionists and the Technical Traffic Collision Investigators.

Highway 15 was closed between Bush Road and Jones Falls Road, and was re-opened a few hours later.

If you witnessed the collision, or have relevant dashcam footage, contact the Leeds County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave your tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca. 

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Crispus BOSWORTH Was Arrested

(ELGIN, ON) – Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped a stolen vehicle on the eastbound Highway 401, Southwest Oxford and arrested the driver.

Beginning on July 1, 2024, at approximately 7:35 a.m., a member of Elgin OPP, Chatham Detachment, attempted to stop a passenger vehicle on the westbound Highway 401 near the 79-Kilometer Marker, Municipality of Chatham-Kent, for failing to have licence plates affixed to the vehicle. The vehicle failed to stop when directed and fled from police at a high rate of speed. In the interest of public safety, the officer did not pursue the vehicle.

At approximately 9:40 a.m., members of Elgin OPP, observed the same passenger vehicle travelling on the eastbound Highway 401 initially near the 82-Kilometer marker, Municipality of Chatham-Kent. The vehicle failed to stop when directed by police two more times before being stopped by members of the Elgin OPP and Middlesex OPP near the 217-Kilometer marker of the eastbound Highway 401, Southwest Oxford Township.

The passenger vehicle was determined to have previously reported stolen from a car dealership in Hamilton, Ontario.

As a result of the investigation, Crispus BOSWORTH, a 49-year-old from Montreal, Quebec was charged with:

·        Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

·        Flight from peace officer (Three Counts)

·        Mischief – destroys or damages property

·        Carless Driving

·        Drive motor vehicle, no plates

The accused was held for a bail hearing, remanded into custody, and scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, St. Thomas on July 4, 2024.

Categories
Elgin OPP Police Press Releases

Violent Home Invasion: Kiefer CLARKE Arrested

(ELGIN COUNTY, ON) – Members of the Elgin County OPP Crime Unit have arrested an individual related to an ongoing home invasion investigation that began in June of 2022.

On Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at approximately 3:28 p.m., officers responded to a report of an assault at a Fingal Line, Southwold Township address.

It was determined that an unknown individual arrived at the residence posing as a delivery person and then forcibly entered the residence after the door was opened by the homeowner. A physical altercation then ensured when a second unknown person entered the home and began to assault the owner.

Both suspects fled from the residence in an unknown direction in a black coloured, long styled sedan.

The victim was transported to a local area hospital and treated for serious non-life-threatening injuries.

On April 10, 2024, as a result of the ongoing investigation, members of the Elgin County OPP Crime Unit charged Kiefer CLARKE, a 20-year-old from Cambridge, with the following:

  • Robbery with intent
  • Unlawfully in dwelling house
  • Assault with a weapon
  • Administer noxious thing
  • Robbery with intent to steal a firearm

The accused was held for a bail hearing, has since been released, and scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Thomas on May 7, 2024.

The Elgin County OPP Crime Unit is continuing to investigate to determine the identity of the other involved individual.