(PEMBROKE, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) 2024 Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign commenced on November 21, 2024, and will continue until January 1, 2025. During the third week of the campaign from December 5 to December 11, 2024, officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP conducted 12 RIDE checks throughout the detachment area.
During the RIDE checks drivers were found to be in full compliance with the law and no impaired driving or over 80mg charges were reported as a result of the RIDE campaign.
Despite the compliance at the RIDE checks, UOV OPP officers charged five drivers with impaired driving-related offences during the week.
On December 5, 2024, at approximately 3:45 a.m., members of the UOV OPP responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 60 in Algonquin Park after a car struck a guard rail. The driver, who was the lone occupant, was not seriously injured and taken to hospital by paramedics for assessment. During the investigation a quantity of suspected fentanyl was seized by police. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the detachment for further testing by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer.
As a result of this incident 29-year-old Michael ASHAWASEGA of Pickerel, Ontario has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and Highway Traffic Act (HTA) offences:
- Operation while impaired – drugs
- Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – fentanyl
- Fail to comply with probation order
- Drive motor vehicle – no licence
The accused was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 18, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
On December 7, 2024, at approximately 7:00 a.m. members of the UOV OPP responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 17 near Beladair Road in Laurentian Hills after an SUV left the roadway and struck trees. The driver and two passengers were not injured. A quantity of cannabis and unmarked cigarettes were seized by police. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the detachment for further testing by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer.
As a result of this incident a 15-year-old young person from Cornwall, Ontario has been charged with the following CC, HTA, Tobacco Tax Act (TTA), Cannabis Control Act (CCA) and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA) offences:
- Operation while impaired – drugs
- Take motor vehicle without consent
- Drive motor vehicle – no licence
- Possess unmarked cigarettes
- Person under 19 years – possess cannabis
- Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle
- Fail to have insurance card
- Have care or control of a vehicle with cannabis readily available
- Careless driving
The accused was released to a family member and will appear in Youth Court at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke at a later date. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
On December 7, 2024, at approximately 3:30 p.m. members of the UOV OPP responded to a single vehicle collision on Kartuzy Road in Madawaska Valley Township after a passenger vehicle left the roadway and struck guardrails and a tree. The driver was the lone occupant and was not injured. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of this incident 50-year-old Jakub KULINSKI of Oakville, Ontario has been charged with the following CC offence:
· Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on January 8, 2025. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
On December 10, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., members of the UOV OPP responded to a vehicle stuck in the ditch on Doran Road in Petawawa. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of the incident 52-year-old Kirk FLOOD of Milton, Ontario has been charged with the following CC offence:
· Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on January 7, 2025. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days.
On December 11, 2024, at approximately 2:00 p.m., members of the UOV OPP responded after a possible impaired driver was reported at the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN). Police located the vehicle and driver a short time later. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of this incident 36-year-old Mary Beth COMMANDA of AOPFN has been charged with the following CC offences:
· Operation while impaired – alcohol
· Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on January 8, 2025. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
