Royal Leonard "Len" Sneath

1932 - 2022  (90 years)

• Name	Royal Leonard "Len" Sneath
  Born	25 Jan 1932	Of Near New Dundee, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	crime
  Name	Len Sneath
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-79471
  Died	31 Jan 2022	Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I79471	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Family	Jean
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F186221	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Bogle,Edward-LenSneath-meterCollection-1954.jpg Len Sneath and Chief Bogle meter collection 1954. Photo courtesy of John Powers - Facebook 2015

  
  

• Notes

  Preston officer nabs U.S. fugitive Cambridge Times Thursday, March 20, 2008 The former Preston Police Department made headline news all over North America in January 1954 when a young constable by the name of Len Sneath ended the freedom of a man wanted by authorities in both the United States and Canada. Donald Ritchie was allegedly involved in the attempted assassination of union leader Walter Reuter in Detroit, Mich. The fugitive was accused, along with four other accomplices, in attempting to murder the president of the United Automobile Workers CIO in Detroit in 1948. The FBI and hundreds of police departments were asked by the Michigan state police to keep an eye open for Ritchie, who last resided in Windsor. On the afternoon of Jan. 13, 1954, 21-year-old Len Sneath reported for duty in Preston. He was briefed about the wanted man and given the licence number - 8W278 - of the car he was believed to be driving. The young constable wrote the number on the back of his left hand. At about 7 p.m., Sneath was on street patrol passing the Central Hotel on King Street when he saw a car pull to the curb and park. An unfamiliar man and woman were inside. The officer read the licence plate number - 8W278. Turning his hand over he checked the number he had written earlier on his skin. It matched. Not wanting to scare the couple off, he continued walking a short distance up the street until he was able to telephone for backup. Sneath was the only officer on duty at the time, so he phoned Const. Jack Lusty at home. Lusty rushed to meet Sneath, who, by this time, had witnessed the couple entering Mary's Barbecue. On seeing the two cops entering the restaurant, Ritchie jumped, ran through the kitchen and out the back door. His companion and common-law wife Mary White was left behind for the officers to take into custody and accompany her to the local police station. Later that evening, around 10:30 p.m., Sneath was driving by the headquarters of the famous Preston Scout House Band on Queenston Road when he spotted Ritchie walking on the road. Stopping, he apprehended the wanted man and took him to the police station. One might say "all hell broke out" as the Preston police office was swamped immediately by newspaper reporters from Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor. Television cameramen added to the confusion. Before the night was over, two detectives from Detroit, Lieut. Claud Ingersoll and Sgt. Bernard Mullins, showed up asking for permission to take the captives back to that city. The detectives had a warrant from the Detroit police for Ritchie's arrest. It was an all-night affair at the crowded station, but by mid-morning, local Justice of the Peace Douglas McKenna announced that Ritchie had signed the extradition waiver and the detectives left for Detroit with their man in custody. "Preston Officer Nabs U.S. Fugitive". 2022. Cambridgetimes.Ca. https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/opinion-story/3353262-preston-officer-nabs-u-s-fugitive/?fbclid=IwAR2DQ5qIkxlqBklxeKZVvJyAV2YWN_lXgWdAPrJmmlNusv6f7iIkUvByVXk. ________________ SNEATH, Royal Leonard (Len) Passed away at his residence in Cambridge on Monday, January 31, 2022 at age 90 years. Beloved husband of Jean. Loving father of Stephanie (Geoff) Allen and Mark (Janice). Cherished papa of Paige, Grady, Hannah, Eden and Caleb. Len served the on the Preston Police and Waterloo Regional Police Service for a total of 35 years. His faith in Christ and desire to help others shaped his later years. Len was known for his straight talk, firm handshakes, and big hugs to those who knew him best. Visitation will be held at Corbett Funeral Home, 95 Dundas Street, N., Cambridge N1R 5N6 (519)-740-0669 on Friday, February 4, 2022 from 5 pm \endash 8 pm. COVID-19 practices are in place with Masks mandatory and Name and phone number required only for those attending the Funeral Home. COVID-19 practices are in place with masks at the church and Pre-Registration is necessary for those attending the Celebration of life service at the Church; by registering with this link https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/celebration-of-life-len-sneath-tickets-261324527697 or by calling Cornerstone Community Church @ 519-624-9375 and leaving a message in the main mailbox. Trees, Memorial, Funeral Homes, and Royal Sneath. 2022. "Royal "Len" Leonard Sneath Obituary". Tributearchive.Com. https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/23903619/royal-len-leonard-sneath. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Cornerstone Community Church, 10 Gatehouse Drive, Cambridge N1P 1C7 on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 11 am with Visitation one hour prior to service time. A Private interment to follow at Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, ON. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to the Benevolent Fund at Cornerstone Community Church to help those in need. To make a donation, please call the church at the above number or go to the website to give online https://www.cornerstonecambridge.ca

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 25 Jan 1932 - Of Near New Dundee, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 31 Jan 2022 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Parklawn Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth