Emo – Goderich Free Press

Joshua WHALEN & Jesse LOVEDAY Were Arrested

(FORT FRANCES, ON) – Members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested and charged two individuals with multiple offences.

On Monday, January 5, 2026, officers were dispatched to reports of a break and enter at a local business in the 400 block of Scott Street. Police were able to recover multiple stolen items on the individuals. The investigation was completed with the assistance of the Rainy River District OPP Crime Unit, OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and their Canine Unit.

As a result, Joshua WHALEN, 40 years old of Fort Frances, has been charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

Break and enter a place to commit an indictable offence
Trafficking in property obtained by crime
Mischief – destroys or damages property
Possession of a credit card

Jesse LOVEDAY, 30 years old of Emo Township, has been charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000
Trafficking in Schedule I substance – Opioid (other than heroin)
Possession of a Schedule I substance – Opioid (other than heroin)
Possession of a credit card

The accused are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.

Anyone with any information should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

(EMO, ON) – A body recovered from the Rainy River near the Town of Emo has been positively identified as a US citizen missing since December 28^th, 2024.

On January 11^th, 2025, the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a request from the International Falls Police Department to assist with a missing person investigation. US law enforcement believed the missing person had attempted to cross into Canada at a location other than a Port of Entry.

A body located in the Rainy River on April 16^th, 2025, has been positively identified as 59-year-old, US Citizen Michael TJOSAAS.

Investigation by the Fort Frances OPP in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, with assistance from the OPP Fort Frances Crime Unit, the OPP Forensic Identification Service and the International Falls Police Department has concluded. The cause of death is consistent with drowning. Foul play is not suspected.