PAIR CHARGED WITH FRAUDULENTLY BUYING TRUCK

HUNTSVILLE — Two women charged with fraudulent purchase of a vehicle will be back in court here Oct. 21 after being charged Friday.

Heather McLean and Brianna Cooper-Steele were released Saturday, Oct. 3, after a bail hearing.

Provincial police say that last Monday, Sept. 28 they began investigating the pair after a truck was “fraudulently purchased” from the Armstrong Dodge auto dealership on Howland Drive in Huntsville.

A follow-up investigation found that a day later a second attempt to fraudulently purchase another vehicle had occurred.

On Friday Oct. 2 police arrested McLean, 39, of Toronto, and Cooper-Steele, 24, of Cambridge.

Police say the arrests were the result of a collaborative investigation with Armstrong Dodge, the Muskoka Crime Unit and Street Crime Unit, with help from the OPP’s central region and Huntsville detachment officers.

McLean and Cooper-Steele were both charged with:

–      Fraud over $5,000.00 contrary to section 380 (1)(a) of the Criminal Code

–      Use, deal, act on forged document contrary to section 368 (1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

–      Personation with intent to obtain property, (identity fraud) contrary to section 403 (1)(b) of the Criminal Code.

–      Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000.00 contrary to section 355 (b) of the Criminal Code.

The two women were held in custody and appeared before a bail hearing.

They were released with conditions to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice, Huntsville  Oct. 21, 2020, to answer to their charges.

Police continue to investigate.

If you have any information about these occurrence please contact the Huntsville OPP Detachment at 705-789-5551 or the OPP Provincial Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122.