The Port Hardy RCMP are thanking members of the community for reporting a suspicious person going door to door begging for money.
Due to the public’s observations and suspicions, Port Hardy RCMP were able to “enter into an investigation that ultimately lead to an arrest and charges,” said Staff Sgt. Wes Olsen.
On March 2 at 3:30 p.m., RCMP received a complaint from a concerned citizen from West Glacier Crescent who reported that a suspicious male had attended their residence asking for money.
A member of the Port Hardy Detachment immediately attended the area and located a 39-year-old man known to police who matched the description of the suspicious person.
The male admitted going door to door looking to do yard work and asking for money as he was trying to gather enough money to leave the community.
At the time, Port Hardy RCMP had no information or evidence to suggest that the man had committed a criminal offence. The man was told to cease his actions, as he was making local residents uncomfortable.
“Previous to receiving the initial suspicious person complaint on March 2, Port Hardy RCMP had received several complaints of mischief to and thefts from vehicles on March 1 in the area of Pine Drive in Port Hardy,” stated Olsen, who added, “A resident with surveillance cameras recorded a suspicious male trespassing on their property late at night on March 1 in the area where the vehicle break-ins had occurred.”
Police were able to review the surveillance video a few days later and immediately identified the suspect as the same male who was reported going door to door soliciting money on West Glacier Crescent.
Although Police were not able to positively identify the culprit responsible for mischief to and thefts from vehicles, further investigation revealed that the male questioned on West Glacier Crescent and was seen on the surveillance video on Pine Drive, was found to be breaching conditions of a Probation Order issued out of Nanaimo Provincial Court.
On March 5, as a result of their ongoing investigation, police arrested David Robert Lawson, of no fixed address.
Lawson, who has a lengthy criminal record with numerous convictions related to property offences and failing to abide by court orders, has been formally charged with four counts of Breach of Probation. A further charge of Trespass at Night was recommended.
Lawson was remanded into custody and scheduled to appear in court on March 13.
– with files from Port Hardy RCMP
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