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Seven arrested in early morning police raid on Pond Shore Road

The RCMP are not releasing much information about a police operation that took place early Wednesday morning on Pond Shore Road in Sackville. At about 6am, area residents report hearing a series of loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, and saw smoke and flashing lights in the vicinity of 106 Pond Shore Road. The house now has boarded up windows.

106 Pond Shore Road was the site of an RCMP raid on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. Photo: Erica Butler

RCMP spokesperson Hans Ouellette says that seven people were arrested at the residence, and the situation did not pose a threat to the general public. Ouellette said the operation involved the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team and other “specialized policing services”, and was part of an ongoing investigation.

Oullette did not disclose the nature of the investigation or if charges were laid as a result of arrests. “We will provide more information when we are able and it is appropriate to do so,” said Ouellette via email.

The home is owned by widower Reginald Sears, whose grandson Colt LeBlanc is due to go to trial on December 4, facing charges stemming from a police operation at his Upper Aboujagane home in April 2021. LeBlanc alongside his sometimes partner Carrie is being tried on three charges: possession of stolen property under $5,000, possession of prohibited firearms, and possession of an illegal substance for the purpose of trafficking.

… Continue

Friday news roundup: calls for transportation investment in Tantramar; PEDVAC’s Christmas box campaign; and Crossman found responsible

On today’s show, we hear from some participants at the first of two ‘Community Conversations on Transportation’ happening at the Sackville Commons this week and next. Then we check in with new PEDVAC foundation director Jodi McCrea, about this year’s Christmas Box campaign helping about 75 families in the Port Elgin region.

Plus in local news briefs: Accused murderer Roger Crossman is seeking a second opinion on a psychiatric assessment that found him responsible for his actions, the RCMP arrested seven people in an early morning operation on Pond Shore Road Wednesday, and town staff will release Tantramar’s new brand next week.… Continue

Crossman found responsible for actions; seeks second opinion

A Sackville man accused of murdering and dismembering his spouse has been granted a six week adjournment in court proceedings so that he can get a second opinion on whether or not he can be held criminally responsible for his actions.

Roger Hilyard Crossman appeared by videoconference in Moncton Provincial Court on Thursday morning, in what was slated as a plea and election hearing for the two charges against the 62-year-old.

Crossman was represented by Saint Antoine lawyer Tim Dubé, who told the court that his client wanted a second opinion, in part based on a language barrier during his psychiatric assessment at the Restigouche Hospital Centre in Campbellton. Dubé asked for either a second assessment to be conducted at the Restigouche centre, or time to arrange for a private psychiatrist to evaluate Crossman.

Crown prosecutor Martine Cormier told Judge Ronald LeBlanc that the results of the original psychiatric assessment, which Leblanc had in sealed envelope, found that Crossman was responsible for his actions. The judge asked both Cormier and Dubé if the report contained any grounds to order a second assessment at the Restigouche centre. Neither could provide any.

Dubé asked the court for six weeks adjournment to allow time for a privately arranged psychiatric assessment, and also for the lawyer to receive and review disclosure from the prosecutor. Leblanc granted the adjournment and set a date for another hearing on January 8, 2024.

Leblanc suggested setting a preliminary hearing date in order to save time in the process, but both prosecution and defense lawyers suggested that wait until January 8.… Continue

Maritime Fuels customers are owed $2.5 million, had to pay bank fees to cancel payments

Longtime customers of Maritime Fuels are concerned they might be out hundreds or thousands of dollars each, after the company declared bankruptcy last week.

Dawn Richards of Bridge Street After School Academy says her business is owed at least $2000 by the defunct company that convinced her to sign a contract requiring pre-authorized bank withdrawals.

And Richards is not alone. According to documents from appointed insolvency trustees PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), former customers on pre-authorized payment plans are owed $2.5 million by the bankrupt company. The round number is likely an estimate, as PwC says it has yet to do a full reconciliation of Maritime Fuels records. It’s also just a fraction of the total debts of the company, which total nearly $44 million dollars.

Screenshot from Maritime Fuels now defunct website.

Once customers like Richards file the paperwork, they will be considered unsecured creditors. The odds of getting repaid do not look good, says Richards. “I’m not holding my breath,” says the daycare operator. “I’m sure that there are people who are probably owed a lot more than $2,000. And where’s that money going to come from?”

The largest creditor listed in the insolvency documents is Western Petroleum, a Newfoundland company owned by Ivan Cassell, the co-owner of Maritime Fuels. According to PwC’s summary, Cassell’s Maritime Fuels owes his other company, Western Petroleum, a round figure of $20 million. Western Petroleum is listed as an unsecured creditor. The Bank of Nova Scotia is owed over $17.8 million, but that debt is secured, and appears to be related to a long list of vehicle loans and mortgages.… Continue

Local customers of Maritime Fuels worried they won’t get paid in bankruptcy

On today’s show, we talk with some local customers of Maritime Fuels about the situation they’re in, thanks to the bankruptcy of the company. Neither Dawn Richards nor Virgil Hammock suspect they have much chance of getting their money back. Plus in news briefs, some local events including Indian Food Lovers at Bagtown this weekend and next, ‘Revealing Chignecto’ exhibit at the Sackville Visitor Information Centre this winter, and annual Parade of Lights this weekend. … Continue

Local researcher looks for input on transportation issues in Tantramar

On today’s show, we learn about a series of consultations on transportation issues coming up this week and next in Sackville. Margaret Tusz-King is a local researcher hosting the sessions as part of a national Transportation Shift project, but Tusz-King says she will be including local groups in the project, including Nursing Home Without Walls, Urban-Rural Rides, and EOS Eco Energy. The email to register for the program is margaret.tusz-king@astergroup.ca.… Continue

Unpacking the carbon tax with local economist, Craig Brett

On today’s show, we talk with Mount Allison economics professor Craig Brett about the carbon tax: how it works, what it’s meant to achieve, and the role it does or doesn’t play in the affordability crisis. Plus in briefs: the RCMP are looking for help identifying the driver of a truck they believe was involved with a fatal car crash on Route 106 in September, and Maritime Fuels has declared bankruptcy, leaving some customers with significant credits on their accounts. … Continue

Police look for driver of truck who left fatal collision scene in September

A still from CCTV footage of the intersection of Royal Road (route 106) and St Thomas St., distributed by the RCMP.

The South East District RCMP think a second driver and vehicle were involved in a crash that killed a 17-year-old on Route 106 in Memramcook in September, and they are asking for the public’s help to find the driver.

At around 1:20am on Friday, September 29, police and emergency crews from Sackville and Dorchester were called to the crash, which appeared to involve a single vehicle whose driver had lost control, left the road, and entered the ditch. Police say speed was a factor in the accident.

The passenger of the crashed vehicle, a 17-year-old boy from Moncton, died at the scene. There were no other reported injuries.

In a release last week, police say they have determined a second vehicle was involved in the crash, and that driver fled the scene before emergency services arrived on September 29. Police are searching for a 2019 grey or silver Chevrolet Silverado, and have released photo of the truck from CCTV footage, as well as a stock photo of the make and model.

Stock photo of 2019 Chevrolet Silverado, distributed by RCMP.

Constable Rob Driscoll of the Southeast District Crime Reduction Unit said in the RCMP release, “investigators are aware that there are witnesses who know what happened during that evening. We are asking those people to come forward with any information that they may have, so that we can bring closure to the boy’s family.”… Continue

Council roundup: budget 2024 approved, air filter project turned down, and councillor censured

Tantramar council meets for its first time ever on January 10, 2023 at Sackville town hall. Photo: Erica Butler

Budget passes, shared services calculations to be reviewed

Tantramar council passed a number of budget resolutions this week, setting capital and operating budget spending as well as tax rates for the municipality.

2024 tax rates for Tantramar, per $1000 of assessed property value

Former town of Sackville: 1.5389 (down 0.0095 from last year)
Former village of Dorchester: 1.5415 (down 0.0225 from last year)
Former Sackville LSD: 0.5625 (0.974 w/ provincial portion, up 0.05 from last year)
Former Point de Bute LSD: 0.7637 (1.1752 w/ provincial portion, up 0.05 from last year)
Former Dorchester LSD: 0.6411 (1.0526 w/ provincial portion, up 0.05 from last year)

The slew of motions also included one that commits council to reviewing how it divvies up the fiscal responsibility for some of the services that are deemed ‘shared’. As treasurer Michael Beal explained to council, when the cost of running the municipality is allocated to the different areas, the share covered by former Local Service Districts (LSDs) is calculated at 90 percent, a decision made by the provincial consultant who was hired to create Tantramar’s first budget.

“The shared service model says that as you go further from the central core services, the local service districts should pay less for some of those shared services. The 90% was chosen by the province, and we don’t know why that was chosen,” said Beal.… Continue

‘There’s gotta be space to disagree’: Liberal leader talks shop with Mount A political science students

On today’s show, we stop in to Dr. Mario Levesque’s political science classroom to hear from Liberal leader and leader of the Official Opposition, Susan Holt. Holt joined the class to talk about how policies are made, and gave a frank depiction of the inner workings of the legislature and political life in opposition. Plus in briefs: some more from Tantramar council, including a new deck for the Sackville Visitor Information Centre, and a resolution to review how costs are divvied up in areas of the new amalgamated municipality. … Continue

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Budget passes, shared services calculations to be reviewed