MAPLETON – A Barrie woman and Wingham man have been charged in connection with a vehicle theft here over the holidays.
On Dec. 26 at about 8:15am Wellington County OPP was called about a truck theft that had just occurred at a house on Wellington Road 7 near Alma.
“Witnesses reported that two suspects arrived at the victim’s property in a black pick-up truck that was carrying a snowmobile,” police stated. “One of the suspects then stole the victim’s vehicle and the two fled the area at a high rate of speed.”
A short time later, police spotted one of the pickup trucks on the 14th Line of Mapleton Township.
“As police were attempting to pull over the vehicle, the suspect suddenly reversed and collided with an OPP cruiser, causing minor damage,” police stated.
Police conducted a roadside screening device test and transported the driver to a local OPP station for further testing. The OPP determined the vehicle was stolen out of Middlesex County and the snowmobile was reported stolen out of West Grey. A quantity of suspected cocaine was located in the stolen vehicle, police say.
Carrie Lynn Beninger, 40, of Barrie, was charged with; vehicle theft over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime (over $5,000), possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000), dangerous driving, possession of a controlled substance (cocaine) and driving with more than 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in her system.
The second suspect, who fled the area in the other stolen truck, was later identified and was held in custody on outstanding charges with another police agency.
Matthew Irwin Charlton, 36, of Wingham, was charged with vehicle theft over $5,000, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime (over $5,000), possession of property obtained by crime (under $5,000), dangerous driving and four counts of driving while prohibited.
Beninger and Charlton are both to appear in Guelph court at a later date.
Snowmobile safety
ORILLIA – Following two fatal snowmobile incidents last weekend, the OPP is warning snowmobilers to stay off frozen waterways, while the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) urges them to stay off closed trails.
With Snowmobile Safety Week (Jan. 16 to 24) underway, the OPP is reporting that six people have lost their lives in snowmobile incidents so far this season.
On Jan. 17, three people died in two separate incidents after their snowmobiles broke through the ice on Georgian Bay.
About 40% of OPP-investigated fatal snowmobile incidents in the last 10 years occurred on lakes and rivers.
