Total calls for service – Belleville Police responded to 77 calls for service over a 24-hour period beginning at 5:00 am on the 28th of June, 2022, to 5:00 am on the
Elderly Fraud
On Friday, June 24th, 2022 at 3:02 pm Belleville Police received reports of a possible fraud in progress. Belleville Police received information that an elderly male had received phone calls advising that his grandson was in jail in British Columbia. The elderly male was asked to attend his bank and take out a large amount of cash, and attend an address within the city of Belleville to get his grandson out of jail. Belleville Police advised the male that this was a scam and not to provide money to anyone. While investigating this incident, the Belleville Police received a second complaint of the same scam. Investigation into the original complaint led Belleville Police to identify a potential meeting point for the cash exchange. Belleville Police were able to attend the area and arrest a twenty-two-year-old Laval, Quebec male Jose Angel Acostia-Tabia. Acostia- Tabia was charged with two counts of Fraud over 5000.00 dollars and one count of attempt Fraud over 5000.00 dollars and held for a show cause hearing on the 25th of June 2022.
The Belleville Police Service is reminding the public to be very suspicious of unsolicited telephone calls requesting money related to family members being arrested and held for bail. The public is reminded that no one from a legitimate law enforcement agency or the courts would ever call and demand money for a bail situation. Belleville Police want to warn the public that these scammers will prey on people’s emotions. Belleville Police urge people to question anyone demanding money or personal information. If a person claims to be from a police service, you can call the service directly to confirm the situation.
For more information on this or other scams and how to protect yourself, go to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website.
Attempt Murder
On Saturday, the 25th of June, 2022, at 7:45 pm, Belleville Police were called to attend a central Belleville, Ontario, residence for reports of an unwanted male that was intoxicated and scaring his elderly parents. Upon arrival, police discovered an elderly female that had been seriously assaulted and also received information that another elderly male was currently being attacked by their adult son. Police entered the residence and discovered an adult male assaulting his elderly father. Police quickly intervened and subdued the male. The elderly parents had received serious but non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to Belleville General Hospital for treatment. Due to the seriousness of the assaults, the Belleville Police Service Forensic Identification Unit and Criminal Investigations Unit were called in to continue the investigation. As a result of the investigation, a fifty-one-year-old Kingston, Ontario male was arrested and charged with, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of Utter Threats, and one count of Attempt choking. The male was held for a show cause hearing on the 26th of June, 2022. The name of the accused is not being released to protect the identity of the victims.
Identity Fraud
On the 29th of June, 2022, an officer was on patrol on Bell Boulevard, when they noticed a vehicle stop beyond the white line at a stop sign. Officers initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the male driver. The male provided an Ontario driver’s license however, the driver did not appear to be the same person operating the motor vehicle. At the time of the traffic stop, officers were not able to definitively determine if the driver was lying to the police and the driver was subsequently sent on his way. Upon further investigation officers determined the driver had provided a false name and documentation. The vehicle was located within the city and seized. The true identity of the driver was determined and an arrest warrant for a Wasaga Beach male has been requested for one count of Identity Fraud and several Highway Traffic violations.
Police Assistance
On June 26th, 2022 at approximately 10:45 pm, unknown suspects broke into a maintenance building on the property of Sir James Whitney School on Dundas Street West. Once inside, the suspects removed a quantity of lawn power equipment, power tools and stole a 2008 Black Dodge Ram pickup truck that was parked inside. The truck is believed to have travelled at a high rate of speed around the city throughout the night and early morning, mostly within the south and east end. Mid-morning, the truck was located abandoned a short distance from the police station however the stolen property was not recovered. If anyone has information please contact Constable Ben Walden at bwalden@bellevilleps.ca or 613-966-0882
