Sarnia man, briefly reported missing, faces charges: police

Sarnia man briefly reported missing faces charges police

A Sarnia man, reported missing early Sunday and found later that day, is facing charges.

To Sarnia man, reported missing early Sunday and found later that day, is facing charges.

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Cole Dew, 28, was charged with three counts of breaching probation and spent the night in the Sarnia Jail before being released Monday on $50 bail, Sarnia police say.

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The probation order was included in a nearly six-month jail sentence Dew recently finished serving for four sets of convictions, including a series of break-ins in Corunna et un dangerous motorcycle chase through Sarnia. Police initially said the motorcycle was stolen, but Dew only pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police and dangerous driving in the Sept. 20 pursuit.

Justice Mark Poland said during Dew’s sentencing hearing he was concerned about his behavior that night.

“When you have this woman on the back of your motorcycle and you’re driving like a maniac through the streets, thank goodness you didn’t wipe that thing out and hurt her or hurt a member of the community,” he said.

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Court heard Dew, with the woman aboard, rode past police about 2 am that Wednesday with no head- or tail lights on and fled when they tried to pull him over. He ran multiple stop signs while driving into a neighborhood near Germain and Coronation parks, where police lost sight of him.

“He put many people’s lives in danger that day, including his own, as he was racing through the streets,” assistant Crown attorney Lori MacIntosh said.

Police later found a black Harley-Davidson, with a license plate belonging to a Yamaha, parked in a Montcalm Avenue driveway. The bike was still warm.

Police found the woman, who didn’t know Dew despite riding with him to get fast food and wasn’t sure why he fled, in the backyard. They also found Dew, lying face down and initially refusing to surrender, court heard.

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The judge also said during the sentencing hearing he was particularly concerned about his breaking and entering.

“It’s a very big problem in the community,” he said.

The court heard Dew was caught in Corunna Feb. 2, 2023 in a red Chevrolet pickup with tools in the bed. Some of the tools were missing from a nearby trailer and housing construction cite. Poland noted this took place two weeks after Dew’s release from jail on other charges.

In one of the other cases, Dew was caught with two illegal knives while riding a motorcycle.

Defense lawyer Terry Brandon said her client is addicted to meth, but was hoping to go to a residential rehab program after his release. Dew apologized to the court when given a chance to speak and talked about wanting to get treatment.

After being released Monday, he’s due back in court in about a month.

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@ObserverTerry

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