A 49-year-old man from Cache Bay was arrested on his own property after he allegedly drove while under the influence of drugs on Highway 17 Sept. 13.
At around 11:30 p.m. that night, the Nipissing West OPP received several complaints of a possible impaired driver heading west on Highway 17, west of North Bay.
A short time later, officers spotted the vehicle, and attempted to stop it just east of Sturgeon Falls, but the driver failed to stop.
Officers attempted to perform a tandem stop, but the vehicle swerved onto the shoulder, and continued to flee. The OPP terminated the pursuit.
Shortly thereafter, officers located the driver sitting in the vehicle, parked on his own property in Cache Bay. He was arrested, and officers seized a quantity of drugs suspected to be methamphetamine and percocet.
The OPP say their investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of a drug.
The man was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer, and as a result of this evaluation, the suspect was charged with:
- Operation While Impaired - Alcohol and Drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC);
- Flight From Peace Officer, contrary to section 320.17 of the CC;
- Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance - Methamphetamine (two counts), contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA);
- Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance - Opioid (other than heroin), contrary to section 4(1) of the CDSA; and
- Dangerous Operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the CC.
The accused was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in Sturgeon Falls court Nov. 5.
The accused was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension (ADLS) and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
This charge marks the 43rd driver charged under Criminal Impaired Driving Laws in the Nipissing West Detachment area in 2020.
