On August 29 at 5 p.m., East Algoma OPP responded to a break and enter at a rail scrap yard on Highway 17 in the village of Spragge.
A thief had loaded scrap metal into a trailer from the rail yard and a struggle erupted between the complainant and the suspect. While waiting for police the complainant tried to box in the suspect vehicle but was unsuccessful as the suspect drove through a fence and fled eastbound on Highway 17.
Later that evening, police received another call reporting that the suspect from earlier was hit in the head with a small green propane cylinder during a fight in Spragge and was now parked at a parking lot at the west end of the Town of Spanish. Upon police arrival, the accused was arrested at 10 p.m., and the galvanized trailer was located on Waterfalls Road and towed to Blind River.
As a result, Michael Schell, 38, from Elliot Lake is charged with:
- Theft over $5,000
- Mischief -destroys or damages property
- Dangerous operation
- Driving while under suspension
Schell is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on October 3.
