Image
Sarnia Police Photo
A Sarnia Police photo of officer entering an Oil Heritage Road home Dec. 11, 2025

Sarnia Police and Lambton OPP arrest two people in Petrolia

December 15, 2025

The Independent

When Lambton OPP went to find a Petrolia man wanted by Sarnia Police, he told them if Sarnia police wanted him, they could come and get him.

Four hours later, Sarnia Police were knocking on his Oil Heritage Line door, with a warrant.

Dec. 11, Sarnia police released the names of a number of people wanted by police, including Matthew Lutes who was wanted for probation violations. Police believed he was living in Petrolia.

Lambton OPP went the an Oil Heritage Road home looking for Lutes just before 3 pm. Lutes refused to come out and surrender to the OPP. “He advised that if Sarnia wanted him, they could come get him.  With the residence contained, OPP contacted SPS to determine if SPS wished to pursue this matter further.  SPS graciously accepted Lutes’ proposal,” Sarnia police wrote in a news release.

Sarnia police obtained a warrant and with Lambton OPP, Sarnia’s Emergency Response and K9 unites, went to the home.

Around 7 pm, a woman came to the door and after being told about the warrant, she tried to block police access to the front door. Police say the woman struck an officer in the face and she was arrested.

Police attempted a number of times to get Lutes to come out of the home, but he refused to leave. The emergency response team then went in and arrested him.

Freedom Spiers, 27, of Petrolia was released after being charged with assaulting police and obstructing police.

Lutes, 47, was charged with two counts of breaching probation. He was released following a bail hearing, Sarnia police said.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Middlesex man facing seven charges after Wyoming crash

October 22, 2026

The Independent An accident in Wyoming led to multiple charges including uttering death threats. Oct. 21, just before 6 pm, the OPP was called to a home on Brooke St. near London St. for a disturbance. There was a single car accident and police conducted a traffic stop. A 41-year-old man from Middlesex County was arrested and charged with He

Read More

Image
Front Page

Water restrictions lifted in Lambton

October 22, 2026

The Independent People in Plympton-Wyoming, Warwick, Brooke-Alvinston and Forest can resume normal water use. Yesterday, the Lambton Area Water Supply System asked people to conserve water while workers repaired a major problem on London Line. Clinton Harper, LAWSS general manager, said crews were working on a waterline on London Line near Mandaumin when there was a problem. He says the

Read More

Image
Front Page

Chicago man on his way back to US charged with impaired driving

October 22, 2026

The Independent A Chicago man’s travels were delayed after Canada Border Services stopped someone they thought was impaired. Oct. 19, just before 8 am, Lambton OPP went to the Blue Water Bridge. They arrested a 48-year-old Chicago man and charged him with impaired driving. The man was given a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and his vehicle was impounded for seven

Read More

Image
Front Page

McGregor scores as Team Canada advances to semis

October 22, 2026

The Independent Forest’s Tyler McGregor notched a second period goal in Team Canada’s 7-0 win over the host team at the International Para Hockey Cup in Czechia on Wednesday. McGregor has four goals and an assist in three games at the tournament. Canada will play Czechia in a rematch in semifinal action on Friday. The U.S. takes on the World

Read More