In a dramatic series of events, a 35-year-old resident of Northern Ontario found himself under arrest following allegations of impaired driving, among other offences. The man reportedly evaded the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Manitoba, allegedly hurling beer cans from his vehicle’s window, assaulting his traveling companion and ultimately bringing his reckless jaunt to a halt by crashing into a ditch.
This unusual encounter began near the border around 7p.m. on September 29. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Kenora received a distress call from the RCMP at Falcon Lake. They reported a vehicle evading their attempted halt combined with erratic driving and occupants hurling beer cans out of the vehicle. A decision was ultimately made to discontinue the pursuit, out of explicit concern for the safety of the public.
As the OPP officers made their way to the reported location, they received more information indicating the vehicle in question had veered off the road into a ditch near Highway 17, adjacent to Royal Lake. Bystanders driving through reported that the ensuing scene involved the driver assaulting his passenger post-collision before disappearing into the surrounding wilderness.
With the containment set up, the OPP officers from Kenora, aided by the emergency response team (ERT) and the K9 unit, successfully apprehended the errant individual a short while later.
The charges laid upon this individual from Kenora are decidedly serious; operation of a motor vehicle dangerously, with impairment from both alcohol and drugs, along with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit. While he was later released from custody, he is scheduled for a court appearance on October 19 with his driver’s license suspended for 90 days in the meantime.
The OPP, while documenting these events, took the time to remind the public of the importance of vigilant reporting. Per them, if anyone suspects someone to be operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they should not hesitate to dial 911.
It is noteworthy that all the charges mentioned herein have yet to be proven in court.
