Kingston News, January 25, 2018

Patrick Brown – Resignation

Just months before Ontario’s election – the leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party is stepping down amid allegations of sexual misconduct.  Patrick Brown issued a statement around 1:30 this morning saying he is resigning as Ontario’s Opposition leader but he will stay on as an MPP to clear his name.

CTV News says two women have come forward with detailed and very graphic allegations against Brown.  Brown held a news conference last night to deny the allegations and say he was staying on as leader – but that quickly changed with his announcement early this morning.

Sexual Assault

A 40 year old Kingston man has been charged with sexual assault.

Kingston Police say a woman was sexually assaulted after attending a business lunch with the man.  The woman was his employee and police say she had left her vehicle at his home while they went to lunch and was assaulted at the home following the lunch on January 9th.

The man turned himself in at police headquarter on Tuesday.

Royal Block – Evacuation

Eight people were taken to hospital by paramedics after a hazardous gas situation at the Royal Block in downtown Kingston.  Frontenac Paramedic Services says it also treated multiple people on the scene. The building at the corner of Princess and King Streets was evacuated early Wednesday afternoon when a cloud of gas was created from chemicals that had been mixed together improperly.

Standoff – Arrest

A man surrendered to the Kingston Police emergency response team after a standoff in Kingston’s west end.

Police say a man had assaulted his parents in the home around 3:30 yesterday morning and threatened them with a weapon.  They managed to get out of the house and contacted police.

The man surrendered around 9:30 yesterday morning.

Another Arrest – Kidnapping/Robbery

Kingston Police have arrested another suspect wanted for the kidnapping and robbery of a man at a residence on Lansdowne Street on January 9th.

Police found a man hiding in a couch when they entered a home on Barbara Avenue yesterday afternoon.  They arrested 29 year old Robert Poffley.  He’s the fifth person arrested in the case.

There is an outstanding warrant for the arrest of a sixth man and police say there may be more arrests in the case.

Fatal Crash

A 71 year old man has died in a single vehicle crash on the 401 east of the Joyceville Road exit.

The OPP says the eastbound vehicle left the road and crashed around 4:30 yesterday afternoon.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.  The name of the man hasn’t been released.

The 401 eastbound was closed while police investigated the crash.  It is open this morning.

Wilton Cheese

The Wilton Cheese Factory is getting a little help from a government program to help agri-business.

Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal visited the cheese factory in Wilton yesterday to announce a grant of $17,838.  The money will be used to save energy by rebuilding and upgrading the main cooler at the Wilton Cheese Factory.

Robbie Burns Day

From Tony’s Today in History File…they celebrate with a steaming pile of sheep intestines filled with ground meat.

It’s Robbie Burns Day.

On this day…January 25th…1759, poet Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland.

His first volume of poetry was published in 1786.

The Rob Roy Pipe Band and Highland Dancers will hold the Annual Robbie Burns Day celebration Saturday night at Italo-Canadian Club.

http://www.robroykingston.com/rob-roy-events/robbie-burns-supper-tickets-available-online-3/