A 42-year-old Sudbury man who refused to stop for the OPP while allegedly driving drunk on Highway 144 is facing several charges.
The Nipissing West OPP responded to a traffic complaint regarding a possible impaired driver travelling southbound on Highway 144, north of Halfway Lake Provincial Park in Antrim Township at 4:20 p.m. Nov. 9.
A short time later, the officer located the vehicle on Highway 144 and observed it swerving all over the road.
Police followed the vehicle for several kilometers while attempting to stop it, just south of Halfway Lake Provincial Park, but the driver failed to stop. The pursuit was then terminated.
While patrolling in the Cartier area at 5:30 p.m., the officer observed the suspect’s vehicle again southbound on Highway 144 and followed it as it turned onto Old Cartier Road.
The vehicle was subsequently located parked along Lochhead Drive in Cartier Township. The driver attempted to leave, but the vehicle was in park.
The officer managed to open the driver's door, reached inside and was able to shut-off the engine. The driver resisted arrest but after a brief struggle, was eventually taken into custody.
The driver, a 42-year-old Sudbury man, was charged with:
- Operation While Impaired - Alcohol and Drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC);
- Operation While Impaired - Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus), contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the CC;
- Flight From Peace Officer, contrary to section 320.17 of the CC;
- Dangerous Operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the CC; and
- Resist Peace Officer, contrary to section 129(a) of the CC.
The accused was released on an Appearance Notice and is scheduled to appear in Sudbury court Dec. 23.
He was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
This charge marks the 58th driver charged under Criminal Impaired Driving Laws in the Nipissing West Detachment area in 2020.
