ESTEVAN — An Estevan woman faces several fraud charges after police were called to investigate the alleged misuse of government assistance vouchers.
On Friday, members of the Estevan Police Service (EPS) were alerted by the Ministry of Social Services to the fraudulent use of multiple vouchers. A few hours later, a local business reported that a customer was attempting to make a purchase with a suspicious voucher.
Officers attended and arrested a 32-year-old Estevan woman. She was charged with three counts of fraud and is scheduled to appear in Estevan Provincial Court at a later date. Police say the investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Estevan man was taken into custody after allegedly stealing a bicycle from outside a local business. Police say the owner had left the bike unattended for a short time and returned to find it missing. Officers located the suspect shortly afterward as he was spray-painting the bike in an attempt to disguise it. He has been charged with theft and mischief to property and was remanded into custody to appear in court.
In a separate incident, police received a report of a female acting inappropriately and partially exposing herself during a verbal altercation outside a downtown business. She was arrested and the matter remains under investigation.
Officers were also called to assist staff at a local liquor establishment after a woman who had previously been banned entered the premises. Police spoke to the woman, who was cautioned and left without further incident.
Additionally, officers responded to a driving complaint involving an unauthorized driver operating a vehicle without a proper licence. That investigation is ongoing.
On Saturday, EPS received a report of a woman in distress walking with a large suitcase in central Estevan. Police and a crisis worker responded and determined the woman was waiting for a ride. She was transported to a safe place to wait.
