Charge laid in connection with ditch fires
An 18-year-old Walpole Island man is charged with arson after he was allegedly spotted starting some fires in a ditch just north of Chatham.
Chatham-Kent police said they were called in after someone saw a man lighting a small fire in the ditch in the area of St. Clair Road near Spurgeon Lane with some dead leaves and grass at around 12 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the fire started spreading through the dead grass towards a wheat field, but someone passing by was able to contain it.
Officers said the man who started the first fire went on to start two more small fires, which were both put out by a nearby farmer.
The accused was later arrested on St. Clair Road near Eberts Line and Brook Line. He was charged and later released pending a future court date.
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Yelling man arrested after running onto the road
A 25-year-old man who was seen yelling at traffic and running out onto the road in Chatham spent some time in police custody on Wednesday.
Chatham-Kent police said they received the report at around 10 a.m. Wednesday in the area of McKinnon Drive, adding that officers tried to talk to the man in order to calm him down, but he "continued yelling and running without taking traffic into consideration."
He was taken into custody for his own safety and later charged with causing a disturbance.
The man was later released pending a future court date.
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Four-vehicle crash leads to charge
No injuries were reported after a four-vehicle collision on Grand Avenue East near Prince Albert Road Wednesday afternoon.
Police said they were called in at around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The driver at fault was charged with careless driving.
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Arrest follows mischief complaint
A 24-year-old man is in trouble with police after allegedly breaking a window at a property on Richmond Street in Chatham by throwing a rock at it.
Police said they received the call Wednesday morning and located a suspect a short distance away from the scene.
He was arrested, charged with mischief, and later released pending a future court date.
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Driving without a license or insurance
A 43-year-old Essex man is facing several charges after he was allegedly caught driving a van in Chatham that didn't have proper license plates or insurance.
Officers said the man didn't have a driver's license, either.
Police said they pulled the man over after checking his license plates on Park Avenue West Wednesday afternoon.
As a result of the investigation, the driver was charged, the license plates were seized, and the vehicle was towed away.
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Speeders on land, but not on the water
Nine drivers were stopped and charged with speeding Wednesday morning after police posted up on Bolohan Drive in Tilbury for some traffic enforcement.
It appears boaters in the area were on their best behaviour Wednesday afternoon, though.
Chatham-Kent police said members of their marine unit patrolled the Thames River and didn't find any infractions.
