Journal Staff
Sarnia Police have identified a victim following a surge in violent crimes in the city’s south end this month.
Sixty-two-year-old Sarnia resident Allen Schairer has been identified as the victim in the Jan. 26 homicide on Devine Street, police say.
On Saturday, a woman was found dead in her Essex Street home. Police are treating the death of 66-year-old Sue-Elin Lumsden as a homicide.
An increased presence of uniformed officers going door to door and speaking with residents in nearby neighbourhoods can be expected in the coming days, police say.
Detectives are asking for any video surveillance footage within the boundaries of Exmouth Street to the north, Christina Street to the west, LaSalle Line to the south, and Highway 40 to the east. Police are looking for footage between Jan. 22 at 5:00 p.m. and Jan. 23 at 8:00 a.m. and between Jan. 25 at 7:00 p.m. and Jan. 26 at 7:00 a.m.
Footage can be provided on a memory stick in an envelope with contact information and dropped off at Sarnia Police Headquarters located at 555 Christina St. North.
In response to growing community concern, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has asked Sarnia Police Chief Norm Hansen to provide a public update on the investigations at Thursday’s Police Services Board meeting.
The mayor, who also chairs the police board, suggested that additional funds or other resources might be needed to address the “disturbing and senseless loss of life” this month.
Yesterday Sarnia Police made an arrest in connection with a stabbing on Davis Street.
Lindsay Rene Smith, 41, of no fixed address, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. and is being held for a bail hearing, police said.
Though unrelated to the Sarnia murders, the OPP are dealing with a fifth local homicide that took place in Corunna on Dec. 31.
Anyone with information about these incidents are asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Branch Information Line at 519-344-8861, ext. 5300, or Sarnia Lambton Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.