Local Sports Coach Arrested From Child Luring Investigation

Former Cavan FC and Peterborough Hockey Association coach Jeff Merrick has been arrested after a child luring investigation, announced on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Belleville Police Servi e.

The 46-year-old Peterborough man was arrested by Belleville Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) and Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

He had allegedly been operating in online chat rooms under the username “Peterboroguy.”

Merrick was arrested and charged with:

• Luring a person under 16 x2

• Making written child pornography

• Invitation to sexual touching

Merrick has been held for a bail hearing since his arrest.

Police are aware that Merrick is the head coach of at least two U18 girls’ sports teams in the Peterborough and Cavan areas and are concerned that there may be other victims.

Cavan FC released a statement regarding the arrest on their Facebook page:

“Cavan FC was contacted this afternoon by the Belleville Police Service. Jeff Merrick has been removed from his role with Cavan FC effective immediately, pending an ongoing investigation. We will be cooperating fully with the police.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who may be a possible victim is asked to contact Detective Constable Lacey Montgomery of the BPS ICE Unit at lmontgomery@bellevilleps.ca.

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Male and Female Suspects Sought After Brandishing a Knife and Stole Necklaces In Street Robbery

Officers with the Peterborough Police Service are seeking two suspects following a robbery early Saturday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 4:05 a.m., officers were called to the area of Rubidge Street and Sherbrooke Street regarding a reported robbery. A man and a woman brandished a knife at two other men and took two necklaces before fleeing the area and were last seen heading eastbound on Dalhousie Street.  The two victims did not wish for medical attention.

Suspect #1 is described as:

• Male, White

• 6 ft

• 140lbs

• 30-40 years old 

• White basketball jersey that said "St. Patrick's" on the front 

Suspect #2 is described as:

• Female, White

• 30 years old 

• Heavy set 

• Green cheetah pants

• Black sweater  

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Careless Driving Charge Given After Two-Vehicle Collision With Hydro Pole; One Other Sent to Hospital As Precaution

A 30-year-old Peterborough driver was charged with careless driving after a two-vehicle collision Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday, officers were called to the area of Parkhill Road and Water Street about the collision, which resulted in a hydro pole being struck. 

The driver of the second vehicle was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre as a precaution. 

The area was closed while the hydro pole was repaired. The road has been reopened.

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Police Investigating Two Toyotas Stolen On Canada Day

The Peterborough Police Service are investigating after two thefts of Toyota vehicles were reported on Tuesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The vehicles were taken between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. One vehicle was taken from the driveway of a residence in the Cunningham Boulevard and Armour Road area and the second from the Clancy Crescent and Spillsbury Drive area.

In both cases, broken glass was found in the driveways where the vehicles had been parked. Some of the items from the first theft were located in the Old Norwood Road and Naish Drive area. 

In recent months, Peterborough Police have received multiple incident reports, with the focus continuing to be on Toyota vehicles, primarily trucks and larger SUVs. 

In most cases, a suspect or lookout vehicle is involved and residents are asked to watch for unknown vehicles with people inside during the late evening or early morning hours, parked on the street for extended periods.

The Peterborough Police Service is working with other police jurisdictions and is asking residents with these vehicles to be extra vigilant. 

The Police suggest the public to consider taking the following precautions:

• parking another vehicle in front of the vehicle or in your garage, if possible, to make it difficult for thieves to drive off

• if your vehicle comes with a tracking system, please make sure it is installed and activated

• using a theft deterrent device

Any suspicious activity should be reported to Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or a crime in progress or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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Erratic Driving Leads to Impaired Driving Arrest For Peterborough Man

A 24-year-old Peterborough man is facing impaired charges after an incident early Saturday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 1:45 a.m., officers received a 9-1-1 call about a possible impaired driver in the area of Sherbrooke Street and Brealey Drive.

A general patrol officer in the area located the vehicle and noticed some erratic driving. A traffic stop was conducted in the area of Sherbrooke Street and Goodfellow Road. Upon speaking with the driver, officers observed signs of impairment.

The man was arrested and charged with:

• Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs

• Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused was issued an automatic 90-day license suspension and a seven-day vehicle impoundment.

The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 5.

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Peterborough Police Warn Public of Release of Convicted Robber

The Peterborough Police Service is issuing a public warning after the release of Peterborough’s 42-year-old Adam Packer, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Packer is being released after serving his sentence for two robberies in 2022 and 2023.  According to Peterborough Police, he is well-known for his interactions involve approaching elderly or vulnerable people while they are in their vehicle and aggressively demanding money. Images and details of his actions were often posted by concerned residents on local social media groups according to Police.

In one case he got into the back of a vehicle; demanded the victim drive to a bank machine to get money; in the second he damaged an apartment and pushed a victim to the ground after being reported for chasing vehicles with a stick.

Given the nature of the crimes and that in the last five years The Peterborough Police Service is issuing a public warning after the release Packer. 

If confronted by him, seek assistance and contact police.

The Peterborough Police Service’s High Risk Unit is aware of the release from custody and that Packer will be on several conditions.

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Repeat Offender Known to Frequent Peterborough Wanted By Police

Ontario’s Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (R.O.P.E.) Squad is seeking the public's help in locating federal offender Lucan Watters, who is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant as a result of breaching their Statutory Release.

Photo courtesy of OPP.

He is described as:

• Caucasian Male

• 47 years of age

• 5"6' (168cm)

• 130 lbs

Watters has several tattoos throughout his body including:

• Left side of neck - wave

• Back of neck - 'FTW'

• Upper left arm - 'hard luck' with a green clover

• Upper right arm - barbed wire

• Chest - 'J.D.J.D'

• Lower back - ‘Watters’

Watters is serving a four-year, 11-month sentence for the following:

• Possession of schedule I/II substance for purposes of trafficking

• Break and enter with intent

• Unauthorized possession of a firearm, prohibited or restricted weapon in a motor vehicle

• Failure to comply with order - at large

• Failure to attend court

The offender is known to frequent Peterborough, Trent Hills, Campbellford, Norwood and Toronto.

Anyone with contact information or knowledge of this offender's whereabouts is asked to contact the Provincial R.O.P.E. Squad at 416-808-5900 or toll-free at 1-866-870-7673 (ROPE), Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or call 9-1-1.

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Two Male Teens Charged With Robbing Another Teenager On the Street

Two male teenagers are facing robbery charges after an incident on Thursday afternoon.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 5:30 p.m., officers learned of a street level robbery around Chamberlain Street and Western Avenue.

They learned that the 14-year-old victim had been approached by two males on bicycles who grabbed the victim’s phone, backpack and sweater before fleeing the area. Shortly after, officers located two teens matching the description given to police in the Park Street and Romaine Street area and took them into custody. Some of the property was located and returned.

A 14-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Robbery with Violence

A 15-year-old Peterborough male was arrested and charged with:

• Robbery with Violence

• Failure to comply with release order – other than attend court

The accused is currently bound by a release order with the following condition to remain in their residence at all times with limited exceptions.

Both accused are being held in custody and will appear in court Friday.

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Two People Charged After a Man Was Chased Out From a Break-And-Enter And Assaulted With a Bat

Two people are facing separate charges including assault and breaking and entering after an incident Tuesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

At roughly 11:50 a.m., officers were called to the area of Monaghan Road and Cameron Street about a man chasing another man with a bat. Officers located a man matching the description given to police walking with a bat and took him into custody.  Officers continued to search the area and located a second man matching the description given to the police, taking him into custody.  The second man was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment of injuries. 

Through investigation, officers learned that one man had broken into a home and the resident chased him out with a bat, striking him several times.

A 31-year-old Whitby man was arrested and charged with:

• Assault causing bodily harm

The accused was held in custody and appeared in court on Wednesday.

A 43-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with:

• Break, Enter a dwelling house with intent to commit indictable offence

The accused was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court July 29.

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Two People Arrested With Human Trafficking Charges Including One Peterborough Woman

31-year-old Raheem Smalling of Whitby and 41-year-old Kimberly Butt of Peterborough are facing several charges including human trafficking, reported Wednesday.

Kimberly Butt of Peterborough (left) and Raheem Smalling of Whitby (right) Photos courtesy of the Peterborough Police Service.

Officers with the HT Unit conducted a search warrant at a residence in the Crawford Drive and Monaghan Road area, following an investigation involving victims being advertised online for the purpose of providing sexual services on Tuesday.

During the search, officers located and seized:

• A double-barreled shotgun

• A rifle

• Quantity of cocaine and fentanyl

• Canadian currency

Smalling was arrested and charged with:

• Material Benefit – Trafficking

• Material Benefit from sexual services

• Advertising sexual services

• Possession of a firearm knowing the serial number has been tampered with x2

• Unauthorized possession of a firearm x2

Butt was arrested and charged with:

• Traffick in person

• Material benefit from sexual services

• Material benefit resulting from Trafficking in person

• Withholding or destroying documents in relation to trafficking in persons

• Advertising sexual services

• Procuring

• Advertising Sexual Services

Both accused are being held in custody and appeared in court on Wednesday.

The Peterborough Police Service released the names and photos of the accused in the event some additional victims recognize them and wish to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough Police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.

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