Category: Area OPP

(LAKESHORE, ON) – The boater reported missing in Lake St. Clair on Sunday June 6, 2021, has been recovered.

On Thursday June 10, 2021, at approximately 10:35 a.m., a boater on Lake St. Clair discovered a body floating in the lake and notified the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 

Members of the Essex County OPP Marine Unit, Chatham-Kent OPP Marine Unit and the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, recovered the body of the missing boater in the water off of Claireview Drive in the Municipality of Lakeshore. The victim was not wearing a life-jacket.

The coroner attended the scene and a post mortem examination has been scheduled for tomorrow, June 11, 2021 in Windsor, On.

The deceased has been identified as 58-year old Harold Todd HOWE of Lakeshore, Ontario.

(NORTH PERTH, ON) – One person is facing a charge in the Municipality of North Perth following an assault.

Just after 2:00 p.m. on June 4, 2021, the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Davidson Ave North in Listowel. An investigation was completed and it was determined that one person assaulted another. There were no injuries as a result of the assault.

Donald SIMMONS, a 63-year-old resident of Huron East was arrested and charged with:

–       Assault

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

(PERTH EAST, ON) – The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged another driver after they were speeding more than 70km/h over the limit in the Township of Perth East.

On June 9, 2021 just after 2:30 p.m., police stopped a vehicle on Perth Line 55 after it was found to be travelling in excess of 150km/h in an 80km/h limit zone.

As a result, Quintin BALDWIN-GUNZEL, 25, of Kitchener, has been charged with:

–       Race motor vehicle – Excessive Speed

A seven day driving suspension and seven day vehicle impoundment was initiated as per statute. The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges. 

(BLUEWATER, ON) – A resident of Tecumseh is facing a Racing charge following a traffic stop that took place in Varna this past weekend.

Just before 8:00 p.m. on June 5, 2021 a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was completing speed enforcement in Varna when a westbound automobile was observed speeding on Mill Road. The officer utilized a LIDAR to measure the speed of the Racing vehicle and it was measured at a speed in excess of 60 km/h over the posted 50 km/h zone. 

A traffic stop was initiated and the driver was subsequently charged. Mackenzie LAFORET, 25 years of age from Tecumseh has been charged with Race a Motor Vehicle – Excessive Speed. A court date has been scheduled for August 10, 2021 at Provincial Offences Court – Goderich. The defendant’s motor vehicle has been seized and impounded for the week, as well, an automatic 7-day driver’s licence suspension has been served on the driver. 

(ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH, ON) – An Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh resident is facing Impaired Operation charges following a traffic stop conducted by Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) yesterday afternoon. 

Just before 2:30 p.m. on June 8, 2021 a Huron OPP officer was patrolling southbound on Bluewater Veteran’s Highway (Highway 21) south of Kintail when he had to take evasive action to avoid an oncoming vehicle. The officer turned around and followed the sport utility vehicle a short distance. While doing so the officer noticed the driver was driving in an erratic manner thus a traffic stop was initiated. 

Upon speaking with the driver the investigating officer observed the driver to be displaying several signs of impairment through alcohol. As such the driver was placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and was taken into custody. Further tests were completed at the Huron OPP Detachment and breath samples were found to be over the legal limit.

Christopher WALKER, 48 years of age, from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has been charged with Operation While Impaired, Operation While Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration 80 Plus and Drive While Under Suspension. He remains in custody with a bail hearing scheduled for June 11, 2021 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

The involved vehicle was towed from the scene and has been impounded.   

(PERTH EAST, ON) – On Friday June 4, 2021 just after 10:00 a.m., the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a theft of a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) from a property on Line 37 in the Township of Perth East.

Sometime overnight, unknown person(s) attended the property, and drove off with a Silver/Brown 2018 Polaris Ranger XP 1000 side-by-side, valued at over $15000. 

The investigation is on-going at this time.

(PERTH EAST, ON) – One person is facing a drug charge after a traffic stop in the Township of Perth East just after 3:00 a.m. on June 5, 2021.

The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was conducting general patrols in Harmony when an officer observed a motor vehicle being driven in an unsafe manner. As a result, a traffic stop was conducted by the officer on Perth Road 112. Further investigation determined the driver was in possession of an illegal drug.

Jessica Thomas, 31, of St. Thomas, was arrested and charged with:

–       Possession of a Schedule I Substance – Methamphetamine

–       Driving While Under Suspension

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

(TOWN OF MINTO, ON) – On April 29, 2021, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Wellington County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a serious motor vehicle collision on Wellington Road 109 near Beehive Lane in the Town of Minto involving a northbound sport utility vehicle (SUV) and a southbound pick-up truck.

Police spoke with the driver of the SUV and determined that their ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol and they were placed under arrest. The driver was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

On June 6, 2021 officers concluded their investigation and as a result Cy Andrew EMERSON, 30-years-old of Rothsay has been charged with Impaired Operation and Impaired Operation- Blood Alcohol Concentration 80 Plus contrary to the Criminal Code. 

The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Guelph at a later date.

If you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired, either by drug or alcohol, call police at 911 to report it.

(CHATSWORTH, ON) On June 6, 2021 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Highway 10, near Thistlewood Road in the Township of Chatsworth.

Grey Bruce OPP stopped the vehicle after it was found to be travelling at over 170 kilometres per hour (km/h) in a posted 80 km/h speed limit zone.

Grey Bruce OPP have charged Michael MCFARLANE, 22-years-old of Barrie,with Stunt Driving – 50km/h or more over the posted speed limit, contrary to Section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA).

The accused was issued a provincial summons to attend court, along with a seven-day driver’s licence suspension. The individual’s vehicle was towed and will be impounded for seven days.

(Lucan-Biddulph, ON) – On June 8, 2021 at 4:27 p.m., while on general patrol, Middlesex OPP performed a traffic stop on Beech Street in Lucan.

George PAUL, a 45-year-old from Lucan has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol, section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Driving while under suspension, section 53(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

The accused was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in London on June 9, 2021.

The Middlesex OPP wants to remind the public that if you see anything suspicious or suspect an impaired driver you should contact the Ontario Provincial Police or your nearest police authority immediately.

The OPP can be reached anytime, anywhere in the Province of Ontario at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.   

(GRAND BEND, ON) – On June 6, 2021 at approximately 10:30 p.m., members of the Lambton County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were conducting a R.I.D.E. checkpoint on Main Street, Grand Bend when a vehicle entered the checkpoint.

Upon speaking with the driver, it became apparent the driver was displaying signs of impairment. The driver was arrested and transported to the Lambton OPP detachment for further testing.   

Sydney SZANYI, 20-years-old of London has been charged with Operation While Impaired and Driving vehicle with cannabis readily available.

The accused has been released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.

If you see a driver you suspect may be impaired by alcohol or drugs, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on your mobile phone. Your call could make our roads safer for all.

(WEST PERTH, ON) – On June 4, 2021, just after 11:00 p.m., Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were conducting a Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) program in the Municipality of West Perth. Police spoke with a vehicle driver that entered the R.I.D.E. and an Approved Screening Device was utilized. The driver was arrested and transported to a local OPP detachment where further tests were administered.

Nathan SANTINI, 39, of Woodham, has been charged with:

• Operation While Impaired- Blood and Alcohol Concentration (80 plus)

A 90-day driving suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment was initiated as per statute. The accused in this matter was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

If you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired, either by drug or alcohol, call police at 911 to report it immediately.

(PERTH EAST, ON) – On June 5, 2021, just after 11:30 p.m., Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a single vehicle motor vehicle collision in the area of Perth Road 119 in the Township of Perth East. Police spoke with the vehicle driver, and an Approved Screening Device was utilized. 

Setishe BOKULE, 20, of Waterloo, has been charged with:

• Careless Driving
• Novice Driver- B.A.C above zero
• Class G1 Licence Holder- Unaccompanied by Qualified Driver

A three day driver’s licence suspension was issued to the driver.

There were no injuries as a result of the collision.

Drivers age 21 and under, and novice drivers of any age (G1, G2, M1 and M2 licences), are reminded that they must not have any presence of alcohol in their blood when behind the wheel. 

If you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired, either by drug or alcohol, call police at 911 to report it immediately.

(WEST PERTH, ON) – On June 5, 2021, just after 11:00 p.m., a Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer on general patrol in the Municipality of West Perth conducted a traffic stop on Perth Line 36. Police spoke with the vehicle driver and an Approved Screening Device was utilized. The driver was arrested and transported to a local OPP detachment where further tests were administered.

As a result, Quinn BUCHANAN, 22, of Zorra Township, has been charged with:

• Operation While Impaired- Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus)

A 90-day driving suspension and seven-day vehicle impoundment was initiated as per statute. The accused in this matter was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

If you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired, either by drug or alcohol, call police at 911 to report it immediately.