Sarnia Police Service officials allege: A 19-year-old woman and a youth are facing charges after a convenience store employee was assaulted during a disturbance at a 24-hour business in Sarnia late Saturday night.
Sarnia police were called to a store in the 600 block of Cathcart Boulevard at about 9:36 p.m. on Jan. 24. When officers arrived, they found broken eggs inside and outside the store. The clerk told police that a group of young females had entered earlier, became confrontational and began verbally insulting her before throwing eggs, pickles and onions. The clerk was struck in the head during the incident. The group then fled the store in a blue SUV.
Police later located the vehicle in a Devine Street parking lot around 10:45 p.m. During the investigation, an adult female contacted police to turn herself in. A 19-year-old woman of Kathleen Street and a 16-year-old youth attended the parking lot and surrendered to officers.
Investigators determined the adult accused had been released on a police undertaking days earlier in connection with similar incidents. On Jan. 22, police say two other convenience stores, one on Christina Street and another on Indian Road, were targeted in comparable “egging” incidents. A blue SUV was also involved in those cases, and the same 19-year-old woman was arrested along with a different youth.
As a result of the repeated incidents while already on a form of release, the 19-year-old woman was held for bail and later released by the court. She faces charges including assault with a weapon, mischief under $5,000 and causing a disturbance, as well as additional mischief charges related to the Jan. 22 incidents. The youth involved in the Jan. 24 incident is charged with assault with a weapon, mischief under $5,000 and causing a disturbance. A second youth connected to the Jan. 22 incidents faces two counts of mischief under $5,000. The identities of the youths cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
“This investigation is continuing regarding the identities of the other involved persons, as well as exploring possible motives for these incidents,” police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sarnia Police Service at 519-344-8861 ext. 0 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
“Crime, regardless of any perceived severity, victimizes our residents, our local businesses, and our community. No one deserves to be assaulted while they are lawfully trying to work. The SPS will continue to investigate and hold offenders accountable for their decisions,” said Chief Derek Davis of the Sarnia Police Service.
