Sunnyside prowlers arrested

At about 4 a.m., the driver of a snow-clearing vehicle flagged down patrolling constables Sébastien Paré and Dave Beaudoin to report three men acting suspiciously and wandering near the intersection of Sunnyside and Grosvenor avenues.

The officers questioned the men, who could not give a good explanation for being in the area. But with no reason to arrest them, the officers resorted to a little investigative work and checked the surrounding streets for tracks the men had left in the fresh snow. Finally, near Upper Lansdowne Avenue, they noticed footprints approaching a number of cars.

The officers returned to search the three men and found them carrying an Esso Speedpass and a Ziploc full of change.

Two of the three men were also found to have broken curfew bail conditions. The suspects had allegedly been checking cars for valuables to steal. They were arrested and charged with violating bail conditions and for breaking into a Roslyn Avenue garage.

“You see how police work can be very elusive,” Station 12 officer Adalbert Pimentel said of the case. “You have to look for evidence and motive before you can (make an) arrest.” In the end, the third suspect was not charged.

Park curfew a success

With only one ticket handed out so far, the much-publicized curfew imposed last June in all municipal parks is a success, said Public Security Director Richard Blondin.

“Our parks are really secure,” he said. “And we have the tools to be prepared for next year. We had a very good experience last summer.”

The curfew — from midnight to 5 a.m. — was meant to curb underage drinking and vandalism in the parks overnight. Formerly, public security officers were unable to deter the teens. They were only able to fine them for drinking in the park, but the youth often hid the alcohol before the officers could intercept them.

Blondin increased the park patrols last summer, and hired more cadets to ensure the curfew was respected. “We had a lot of coverage and visibility,” he said, adding that eight police tech cadets will be hired again next summer and will work from late May until Labour Day.