Niagara’s most wanted
Niagara Regional Police are appealing to a Thorold man to turn himself in.
Brody Racine, 34, is wanted on 29 counts of fraud under and two counts of fraud over $ 5,000 as well as two failures to comply with recognizances given by him to the court.
He is featured on the NRP’s Niagara’s Wanted web page. Of the five suspects listed, he has been there the longest.
“The victims are putting ads on Kijiji seeking summer or part- time employment,” said Det. Klara Dowd of the NRP’s fraud unit. “They are being contacted by someone who says he is the owner of a construction company and is looking to hire labourers.
“The suspect asks the victims if they have WHMIS training or other types of mandatory training. He then tells them he can get them a deal with the training if they give him the cash up front.
“The suspect tells them he will hire them when they are finished training. The people are handing over from $ 200 to $ 500 and expecting to be enrolled in training. The training never comes about.”
Dowd said 32 complainants have come forward. She said other complainants have also come forward but don’t want to pursue charges.
“Brody knows he is wanted because he has been in communication with us,” Const. Phil Gavin said. “He has his family ties in Niagara, but we have reason to believe he is residing outside Niagara.
“Since the time he went onto our Niagara’s Wanted page, we believe he has committed more offences.
“This has to be resolved. It isn’t going to away. He needs to turn himself in.”
Racine stands six- feet tall and weighs 250 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. He has three tattoos including the word “Shelby” on his left wrist. “With No Regrets” is tattooed on his waist as are words “Live Life to Die.”
“This is a situation where the people are vulnerable,” Dowd said. “They are looking for work and the suspect is preying on their vulnerability.”
Meanwhile, there are two new members of Niagara Regional Police’s wanted program.
Aaron Corey Brown, 20, of Fort Erie, is wanted for robbery, possessing a prohibited weapon, uttering threats, break and enter, two counts of assault with a weapon, and failure to comply with probation.
Malcolm Edwards, 23, a resident of Niagara Falls with ties to Toronto, is wanted for numerous firearms offences including possessing a restricted firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, careless use of a firearm, possessing a firearm contrary to a prohibition order, failure to comply with recognizance and failure to comply with probation. The police consider Edwards armed and dangerous and warned members of the public not to approach him.
They join Racine and two other members who were already on the list of suspects for which the NRP is searching.
Steven Corkery, a. k. a. Esteban Criger, 25, of Niagara Falls and St. Catharines is wanted for theft under $ 5,000, resisting arrest, breach of probation and three counts of breach of an undertaking.
John Mundinatz, 27, of St. Catharines, is wanted for assault and driving while prohibited.
Anybody with information is asked by police to call 905- 6884111 and request to speak to dispatch, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1- 800- 222- 8477 or text your tip to 274637 ( CRIMES).