Regina man arrested with IDs from 131 other people

A 28-year-old Regina man is facing 40 charges of identity theft after a police investigation that started Aug. 18.

Justin Theodore Pelletier allegedly was found to be in possession of identification documents, cheques and other personal documents belonging to 131 people. He allegedly had multiple pieces of ID from 40 of those people.

In a media release issued Thursday, the Regina Police Service said officers responded Aug. 18 to a call of a parked vehicle in the 1100 block of Devonshire Drive. The car was running, but the driver apparently had passed out behind the wheel.

Officers arrested the man and searched his vehicle, finding break-and-enter tools, numerous pairs of gloves, house keys and a balaclava. There also was a computer bag containing a number of personal documents, none of which bore the suspect’s name.

The suspect was charged with possession of break-in instruments, possession of a knife, carrying a concealed weapon and breach of probation. He appeared in court on those charges on Aug. 19.

The Regina Police Service’s Commercial Crime Unit subsequently started investigating the contents of the computer bag. That led to 40 charges of identity theft and one charge of possession of identification documents in relation to the 91 other victims.

Pelletier made his first court appearance on the latter charges on Monday.