Son of veteran group president accused of poppy box thefts
The son of the president of a veterans’ association in London, Ont., has been charged with the theft of several poppy donation boxes.
Sunday’s burglary of up to 10 donation boxes from the Canadian Corps Veterans Association’s office in east-end London had shocked the city.
Just before Remembrance Day ceremonies started Friday morning, London police confirmed that Kenneth Maudsley, 22, of no fixed address had been arrested by its Break & Enter Unit in connection with the theft of the poppy boxes.
A woman who answered the phone at the Canadian Corps Veterans Association’s office on Friday confirmed that Mr. Maudsley is the son of the association’s president, 73-year-old Ken Maudsley.
The woman wouldn't give her name. The arrested man's family ties were also confirmed by Sherri Cornish, first vice at the Veterans Association, to the London Free Press.
The elder Mr. Maudsley wasn’t aware yet of the arrest when contacted by the Globe and Mail Friday morning.
“If it is [the case], I’m in shock,” he said. “I don't really know yet. You're the first one to tell me.”
Just the day before, Mr. Maudsley had been telling reporters he was overwhelmed by the community's show of support following the theft.
The incident had made headlines because it was of broader scope than the usual swiping of a donation box from a shop counter.
Local media reported that a thief had broken into the association’s office through a window and, despite an alarm, had taken eight to 10 donation boxes from a table before exiting through a patio door. No fingerprints were found.
The younger Mr. Maudsley had initially been stopped by police on an unrelated warrant for fraud, said spokeswoman Constable Ashley Fritz.
He has been charged on one count of theft and one count of break and entry.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...t-accused-of-poppy-box-thefts/article2233606/
The son of the president of a veterans’ association in London, Ont., has been charged with the theft of several poppy donation boxes.
Sunday’s burglary of up to 10 donation boxes from the Canadian Corps Veterans Association’s office in east-end London had shocked the city.
Just before Remembrance Day ceremonies started Friday morning, London police confirmed that Kenneth Maudsley, 22, of no fixed address had been arrested by its Break & Enter Unit in connection with the theft of the poppy boxes.
A woman who answered the phone at the Canadian Corps Veterans Association’s office on Friday confirmed that Mr. Maudsley is the son of the association’s president, 73-year-old Ken Maudsley.
The woman wouldn't give her name. The arrested man's family ties were also confirmed by Sherri Cornish, first vice at the Veterans Association, to the London Free Press.
The elder Mr. Maudsley wasn’t aware yet of the arrest when contacted by the Globe and Mail Friday morning.
“If it is [the case], I’m in shock,” he said. “I don't really know yet. You're the first one to tell me.”
Just the day before, Mr. Maudsley had been telling reporters he was overwhelmed by the community's show of support following the theft.
The incident had made headlines because it was of broader scope than the usual swiping of a donation box from a shop counter.
Local media reported that a thief had broken into the association’s office through a window and, despite an alarm, had taken eight to 10 donation boxes from a table before exiting through a patio door. No fingerprints were found.
The younger Mr. Maudsley had initially been stopped by police on an unrelated warrant for fraud, said spokeswoman Constable Ashley Fritz.
He has been charged on one count of theft and one count of break and entry.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...t-accused-of-poppy-box-thefts/article2233606/
