HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-29, Page 5Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - Page A5
Hallam family continue volunteer search effort
signal -star staff
Friends and family of a missing Huron
County man have recently executed another
volunteer search effort, turning up little new
insight as to his whereabouts.
Sixty -six-year-old Ronald Hallam of
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township
has been missing since March 25, when
he walked away from his Dungannon -area
residence near the Saratoga Swamp. In the
absence of any new leads or information,
friends, family and community members
continue to patrol the area.
"We didn't find anything, I guess that'
could be a good or a bad thing depending on
opinion," said Bob Hallam, Ronald's brother
who has been leading volunteer efforts over
the course of the five weeks since Ronald
went missing.
Aided by nearly 100 friends, family and
community members, Bob Hallam headed
out once more last Thursday to resume a
volunteer effort in the ° search for Ronald
Hallam. With members both on foot and on
the roads, the latest venture that
stretched from Nile Road to Dun-
gannon Road turned up nothing,
Bob reported.
"We've searched the area pretty
thoroughly. It's big, but we haven't
found any tracks. Even on the day
he left, we couldn't find tracks,
and we're pretty sure he didn't go
north, west or south."
Since the mid-morning hours of
March 25 when Ronald Hallam
was last seen, his family has been
under close watch by concerned friends and
neighbours. Bob praised their comforting ef-
forts, and called it "second to none."
"They've been absolutely perfect," he said.
"You couldn't wish for better friends."
While the Huron OPP have established a
crime unit to work the case, Bob said that
effort has heated up recently in additional
missing persons reports including the abduc-
tion of eight-year-old Woodstock resident
Victoria (Tori) Stafford.
Investigators probing the Stafford case
Ronald Hallam
Mischief turns to arson
An evening fire in Goderich has sparked
suspicion of arson.
On April 17 at approximately 7:45 p.m.,
a fire broke out in a camping trailer located
at the back of private property on Anglesea
Street in Goderich. Earlier that sameday,
the owner had reported to police that un-
known suspect(s) had committed significant
mischief to the trailer sometime previously.
Police are treating the fire as arson. The
investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with
information is encouraged to call the Huron
OPP at 1-800-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers -
1-800-222-8477.
SHOPPLIFTER CAUGHT
WITH GOODS
On April 21 at approximately 8 p.m. Hu-
ron OPP officers were advised of a male
party who had left the rear of the Goderich
Canadian Tire store stealing a large screen
television. The suspect reportedly left the
rear of the store into a field and was cap-
tured on the store video surveillance system.
Police attended and while keepingdistance,
observed a brown car leaving the field area.
The vehicle was located in the loading dock
of the Wal-Mart store next to Canadian Tire.
A male party was observed getting out of
the driver's side of the vehicle. Officers then
made contact with the male who initially
failed to correctly identify himself stating
he was gathering boxes to move.
ee
Upon further investigation, the male was
arrested. The TV was located on the back
seat of,the car covered with a blanket. A
41-yearold Goderich man is facing one
count of Theft Under $5,000, one count of
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime,
one count of Mischief and one count of
Public Mischief. He will return to court
April 27, 2009.
FLIGHT FROM POLICE
(Central Huron) On April 17 shortly after
8 p.m., Huron OPP officers were in Central
Huron observing for traffic violations when
a vehicle passed by that was believed to
have improper plates. The officers began to
initiate a traffic stop but the driver fled from
police at a high rate of speed, failing to stop
for stop signs and a red light. The officers
attempted to catch the fleeing suspect but
had. to stop due to public safety. The vehicle
was soon located however and with the as-
sistance of the OPP canine, the driver was
located nearby and arrested.
As a result of the incident, a 36 -year-old
resident of Central Huron is now facing one
count of Flight from Police, one count of
Dangerous Driving, one count of Use Plates
Not Authorized for Vehicle and one count of
Operate Motor Vehicle with No Insurance.
He will answer to his charges in Goderich
Court on April 27, 2009.
pair remanded to custody
North Huron man and woman,
charged with conspiracy to commit
murder and counseling to commit
murder, were both remanded in custo-
dy awaiting appearances in bail court
this week.
The 38 -year-old woman from North
<< Huron appeared in Superior Court in
Goderich Friday but had her bail hear-
ing adjourned to Wednesday, April 29
at 10 a.m. She was remanded in cus-
tody at the Elgin Middlesex Detention
Centre in London.
A 39 -year-old Wingham man
charged in the case made a video ap-
pearance in bail court Thursday and
was remanded in custody until his
next appearance. ,y,
The pair was arrested
`hursday.
March 12,for conspiring to commit a'
murder. Nanhave not been released
to protect the identity ofwit; esses and
t intended victim, `t "ys
got a boost on Saturday night
after the U.S. crime show,
America's Most Wanted, aired
a segment on the little girl's
disappearance.
The Bruce Peninsula OPP
have recently become busy
as well after launching a ma-
rine and air search Sunday for
a 19 -year-old Bowmanville
man after his empty canoe was
found on the rocks off Pike
Bay. Joshua Wiedrick was re-
ported missing at 10:30 a. m. Saturday, April
25. He was staying alone at a cottage along
the Lake Huron shoreline on the Saugeen
First Nation.
"I still call in to [the police]," Bob Hal-
lam said of his relentless effort. "They said
they're trying to work with me again to see
what's come up."
"We've got great support," he added. "We
just haven't got anything to go on."
Ronald's sister, Kathy Driscoll of God-
erich said that the unanswered questions
raised by her brother's five-week absence
have imposed an emotional strain she never
would have expected.
"It's very puzzling, I'd like to see him come
home," she said "I think it's worse than hav-
ing a family member die because there's no
closure. I don't want to see nobody die, but
at least you know."
The Huron OPP called off their extensive
ground search on March 27 following two -
days of foot, canine and aerial search efforts
surrounding Hallam's property, as well as
home -to -home searches of neighboring
properties.
Ronald Hallam is described as 5' 8" tall
weighing approximately 200 lbs. He is bald-
ing with grey hair. He was last seen wear-
ing a red and black lumberjack style jacket,
a black ball cap, light coloured work pants, a
dark grey T-shirt and work boots.
His residence is located near Saratoga
Swamp. His direction of travel is unknown
although police do believe he left his resi-
dence on foot.
Huron OPP continues to seek further in-
formation. Hallam may be armed, but police
do not believe he is a danger to others.
Members of the public are still being asked
to contact the Huron OPP immediately at
1-800-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers- 1-800-
222-8477 with any information in this case
or any sightings of Ronald Hallam.
Driscoll has arranged for a trust fund to
be established .to benefit Maragret Hallam,
wife of Ronald Hallam. The account has
been opened in Maraget's name at the Credit
Union on St. David Street in Goderich.
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