WILDLIFE COLLISIONS
Collisions with wild animals can result in serious vehicle damage, personal injury or death. The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP advise the motoring public to exercise extra caution while travelling area roads and highways.
From September 1 to October 20 , the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment have responded to 23 motor vehicle collisions involving wildlife, primarily deer.
Following simple driving techniques will help to reduce the chance of being involved in a collision involving wildlife:
• Be extra vigilant during morning (dawn) and evening (dusk) commutes as visibility is reduced and wildlife are more active. Reduce your speed accordingly.
• Be aware of signage in areas known for deer crossing
• Drive defensively – anticipate unpredictable behaviour from wildlife, by scanning for wildlife on the road, in the ditch or on the shoulder. (Watch for shining eyes)
• Deer seldom run alone, if you see one, chances are there will be more
• When safe to do so, use high beams when driving at night and scan the ditch area
• If you need to avoid deer on roadways, do not swerve, brake firmly and stay in your lane so not to lose control of your vehicle.
• Never assume an animal will move out of your way. If hitting an animal is unavoidable, remember to stay in control and look where you want to go and not at the animal.
Crime of the Week
Pembroke/Renfrew County Crime Stoppers and the Killaloe Detachment of the OPP are asking for the publics’ assistance in solving the theft of a motor vehicle.
On Saturday, October 22 around 9:35 a.m. Killaloe OPP received a theft of motor vehicle call for service on Wallace Street in Bonnechere Valley Township. A 2004 Grey Hyundai Santa Fe SUV with Ontario licence number BXEK 995 was stolen sometime overnight.
Crime Stoppers Pembroke/Renfrew County believes that someone may have information that could assist police in solving this crime. If you have information on any criminal offence that results in charges being laid, you qualify for an award of up to $2,000.00. Call Pembroke/Renfrew County Crime Stoppers at 613-735-8477 or you can reach us at 1-800-222-8477. You could help solve a crime. All tips remain anonymous and you will not have to attend court. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display. Our telephones are answered 24 hours a day. Please visit us at our new website www.valleytips.ca.
Drug charges laid after OPP execute search warrant in Laurentian Valley townshi
LAURENTIAN VALLEY– On Tuesday, October 18, 2016 members of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP, with the assistance of OPP’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant at a residence in Laurentian Valley Township.
A quantity of drugs was seized and as a result 35-year-old Benjamin Jeremy Schauer of Laurentian Valley Township is charged with the following CDSA offences:
• Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
• Possession of a Schedule II Substance – Cannabis Marihuana
He is further charged with 3 counts of Fail to Comply with a Recognizance contrary to the Criminal Code.
VIRUSES, WORMS AND TROJANS – OH MY!
Attachments Contain Threats to Personal and Business Data Systems
The OPP warn of the dangers presented by emails and certain attachments as part of its ongoing Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign.
Reading the contents of an email should be safe if you have the latest security patches, but email attachments can be harmful. Email phishing scams can trick you into opening attachments or giving up personal information. They appear to be emails from people, organizations or companies you know or trust, but they’re often the gateway to identity theft by automatically installing malware, viruses, worms, and trojans. In some instances, email attachments are disguised as letters of reference, resumes or information requests can infiltrate and affect businesses that are involved in legitimate hiring processes. Also known as “spearphishing campaigns”, high-value corporate and governments have been targeted through email attachments to take advantage of previously-unknown security vulnerabilities.
Many email servers will perform virus scanning and remove potentially dangerous attachments, but you can’t rely on this. The easiest way to identify whether a file is dangerous is by its file extension, which tells you the type of file it is. For example, a file with the “.exe” file extension is a Windows program and should not be opened. Many email services will block such attachments. Other file extensions that can run potentially harmful code include “.msi”, “.bat”, “.com”, “.cmd”, “.hta”, “.scr”, “.pif”, “.reg”, “.js”, “.vbs”, “.wsf”, “.cpl”, “.jar” and more.
In general, you should only open files with commonly-used attachments that you know are safe. For example, “.jpg” and “.png” are image files and should be safe. Document files extensions such as “.pdf”, “.docx”, “.xlsx”, and “.pptx” and should also be safe — although it’s important to have the latest security patches so malicious types of these files can’t infect systems via security holes in Adobe Reader or Microsoft Office.
If you or a business suspects they’ve been a victim of ‘spearfishing’, contact your local police service, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, report it to the OPP online athttp://www.opp.ca/index.php?id=132 or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) at https://www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm
“Insecure, infected or unencrypted email attachments can risk injecting a number of information and data security threats to your home or workplace environments,” said Deputy-Commissioner Rick Barnum, OPP Investigations and Organized Crime. Your personal information and business systems need to be safeguarded and it starts right at your inbox.”
Supt. Paul BEESLEY, Director of the OPP Behavioural, Forensic and Electronic Services, said, “When it comes to email attachments, you should exercise extreme caution and assume the worst. Don’t actually download or run an attachment unless you have a good reason to do so. If you’re not expecting an attachment, treat it with healthy suspicion.”
Pedestrians safety is a two-way street
The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP reminds the public whether you are driving or walking, to keep safety in mind.
Pedestrians who are either out walking or jogging at night should remember the importance of being visible to traffic. Drivers cannot avoid what they cannot see.
With it getting darker earlier, it is even more important for pedestrians to wear bright or reflective clothing, as well as carry a flashlight.
It is safest to walk on sidewalks, however if there is none available then always walk on the shoulder facing traffic and as far and safely as possible from passing vehicles.
Motorists should also be observant for pedestrians at all times, especially during dark hours. Look ahead, drive within the speed limit, and allow time to react to unexpected situations.
Be alert and aware of your surroundings.
Halloween Safety
The OPP reminds parents/guardians and children that Halloween can be a time of both excitement and potential danger. Help keep everyone safe by following these Safety Tips:
1. Wear light coloured Halloween costumes, ones with reflective material on them (increases visibility);
2. Use makeup instead of a mask (this allows you to see better);
3. Wear short costumes (to avoid tripping);
4. Walk, don’t run, from house to house;
5. Carry a flashlight;
6. Do not criss-cross the street, go up one side and then down the other;
7. Follow the “rules of the road” and remember to stop, look and listen before you cross the street;
8. Never go out “trick or treating” alone
9. Tell your parents/guardians your route. Better yet, take them!
10. Never go inside houses to get your treat;
11. Go only to homes that are well lit and are participating in Halloween;
12. Do not eat your treats before an adult has checked them;
13. Know where the Safe Places are in your community, where you can go to for help.
By following the above tips and using common sense you will not only have a scary Halloween but a safe one too!
OPP lay weapons charges after search warrant in Deep River
DEEP RIVER – On October 18, 2016 members of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP, Deep River Police Service, OPP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), Tactical Response Unit (TRU) and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) executed a Criminal Code (CC) search warrant and a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant at a residence in the Town of Deep River. An edged weapon and brass knuckles were seized as part of the investigation.
As a result, 42-year-old Joshua Christopher Atkinson of Deep River was arrested and is facing the following CC charges:
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose – 2 counts
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon – 2 counts
• Possession of a Weapon contrary to Prohibition Order – 2 counts
WINTER DRIVING TIPS – STAY ALERT, SLOW DOWN, STAY IN CONTROL
With winter weather in the forecast, the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP reminds motorists that adverse weather conditions put extra demands on you as a driver and on your vehicle’s performance.
Stay alert. Slow down. Stay in control.
These are three key elements to safe winter driving. Motorists are advised of the following safety tips to help everyone arrive at their destination safely.
• Drive according to current road and weather conditions. Reduce your speed when adverse weather conditions arise.
• Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Remember, longer stopping distances may be required.
• Be able to see and be seen. Clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights.
• Consider installing four winter tires on your vehicle, install good wiper blades and keep an ample supply of windshield washer fluid in your vehicle
• Give yourself extra time to reach your destination. Consider postponing or cancelling your trip if the weather does not improve.
The following is a list of some recommended items to carry in your vehicle:
• A charged cell phone in case of an emergency
• An ice scraper, snow brush, a small shovel, sand, salt or other traction aid
• Booster cables, road flares, fuel line anti-freeze, and tow rope
• Extra clothing and footwear, a blanket, high energy non-perishable food, matches and a candle
• Flashlight, small tool kit, first aid kit
To check on road conditions before your trip you can call 5-1-1. The Ministry of Transportation’s Traveller Information Services provides road information for provincial highways in Ontario by telephone at 5-1-1 or online with accessible information on the MTO Ontario 511 website at www.ontario.ca/511
