Image

Cyclist arrested after fight with Sarnia police

February 16, 2025

Sarnia’s Police Chief says there could have been a very different outcome after police arrested a cyclist Saturday.

An officer say a cyclist travelling south on the snow-covered road against traffic. The officer stopped the cyclist to speak with him through the cruiser passenger window. The cyclist tried to pedal away so the officer moved to stop him from moving forward.

The man ran across a snowbank to the sidewalk with his bike and tried again to pedal away. The officer chased him on foot, catching up to try to place him under arrest. The cyclist began to fight with the officer and during the struggle, a firearm fell to the ground.

The officer used a taser, but it was only partially effective. The cyclist continue to resist violently. The officer hit the man and eventually took him into custody.

A search of the man revealed two large knives and a small bag of fentanyl. The firearm was a replica BB gun.

Police have charged Grant Watson-McCoy, 29, has been charged with 10 charges including assaulting a police officer, three counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of fentanyl and carrying a concealed weapon.

“The presence of these concealed weapons in this incident could easily have resulted in a very different and tragic outcome,” said Chief Derek Davis. “I am relieved that no officers were injured and commend them for their actions.”

Share This

Image
Front Page

Petrolia, WM give out $15K in green grants

April 23, 2025

There will be more trails, trees and environmentally-friendly lighting thanks to the Town of Petrolia and WM’s Green Grants. The town announced $15,000 in funding on Earth Day. 2025 Successful Projects: The IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter was successful in their application for Moncreif Park and JubileeTrail Revitalization in the amount of $5,000. The funds will be used to plant native

Read More

Image
Front Page

‘We will be fighting this’ bid to push through York1 plan Canniff tells province

April 23, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent When Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff first got the call, he thought it was good news. Instead, he’s gearing up for an all-out fight to stop York1 Environmental Waste Solutions from pushing through its plans to reopen the derelict Dresden dump. Canniff got a call from the Minister of the Environment’s office Thursday around noon. When he returned

Read More

Image
Front Page

Petrolia Water intake contractor approved

April 22, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Two major projects in Petrolia are moving forward. In 2022, the town received of a $16 million grant to replace the Lake Huron water intake pipe which was installed in 1944 and is nearing the end of its life. Monday, Petrolia council awarded the contract for the new water intake at the Brights Grove Water Treatment Plant

Read More

Image
Front Page

Environmental Defence calls PC’s move to speed up York1 project ‘shameful backpedelling’

April 22, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent Traumatizing. That’s what Thomas Peacock, one of the leaders of a community group fighting the revitalization of the Dresden dump, calls the Ford Government’s decision to allow York1 to redevelop the land without an Environmental Assessment. Members of the Dresden community became aware of the move not from their local MPP or a news release, but by

Read More