RCMP seeking witnesses to help put small group of troublemakers behind bars

A6

By Devon Judge

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One man has pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer during a Saturday night full of disturbances at Woodstock First Nation.

On Monday, Justin Polchies, 23, of Woodstock First Nation was sentenced to serve 45 days in jail on weekends after pleading guilty to one count of assaulting a police officer and subsequently breaching a probation order.

Polchies was one of three individuals arrested over the weekend with relation to a number of disturbances on the First Nation.

RCMP Sgt. David Vautour stated police were investigating three major incidents – damage of a vehicle, damage to a house and arson to a second vehicle. Sgt. Vautour said police believe the damage to the house was in retaliation to the initial vehicle damage and the arson was retaliation for the house damage.

A female was released from custody Monday on a promise to appear in court at a later date. A second male was also released.

"This file is still under investigation," Sgt. Vautour stated. "Charges are pending further investigation.

"We are hoping more witnesses will come forward," Sgt. Vautour added. "It is a very small minority of the population that causes a majority of the trouble, especially on Woodstock First Nation. This is usually a very quiet community with the exception of three or four people. If we get help to put these people behind bars, this will be a very quiet community. But we do need the community's support to prosecute these people."