Category: Area OPP

(GODERICH, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a Bluewater resident with Theft Under $5,000 and Impaired Operation after a complaint was reported to police on Sunday, December 3^rd,2023. 

Huron OPP received a report of a theft from a retail store in Goderich that occurred on November 26^th, 2023, and was discovered through video surveillance footage on December 2^nd, 2023. A lone suspect was captured on video removing two portable generators from the store on November 26^th, 2023, without paying for the items, valued at just under $2,000.

Huron OPP officers investigated the theft and were able to identify the suspect. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with the theft on December 3^rd, 2023. The accused was released from custody with a requirement to attend the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for fingerprints.

On the 10^th of January 2024, the accused attended the Huron OPP detachment for fingerprinting. Officers noted that the accused was displaying signs of impairment. Officers had reason to believe that the accused was driving while impaired by drug, and they were subsequently arrested.

The accused was then transported to the South Bruce OPP Detachment in Walkerton for further tests by an OPP Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.).  

Following the police investigations into the two separate incidents, the accused; Matko DIVIC, 47 years-of-age from Bluewater has been charged with the following offences:

–      Theft Under $5,000,

–      Operation while Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs.

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. The accused’ driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days.

The accused was later released from custody with a court appearance scheduled at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich on February 26^th, 2024. 

UCE COUNTY, ON) – An investigation conducted by the Huron-Perth Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU), Grey-Bruce Community Street Crimes Unit (CSCU), Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team and members of the Huron OPP resulted in the recovery of a stolen pickup truck and seizure of illegal drugs, with a total value exceeding $44,000.

On Wednesday, January 10th, 2024, a search warrant was executed at a residence on Chepstow Road, Walkerton, Bruce County resulting from an investigation involving a stolen pickup truck. 

As a result of the investigation, police recovered a stolen 2020 Ford F150 pickup truck and seized a quantity of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine.

The combined estimated value of the seized drugs is $1,200.

The estimated value of the recovered truck is $43,000.

Donna DREDGE, 60 years of age from Bruce County has been charged with:

• Possession of Cocaine,
• Possession of Methamphetamine,
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime – Over $5,000.

The accused was processed and later released from custody with a court appearance scheduled in the Walkerton Ontario Court of Justice on February 14^th, 2024.

Any person with information regarding this incident or any other incident is asked to contact South Bruce OPP at 1-888-310-1122. 

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

(GODERICH, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a Goderich area resident with Theft and Trespassing at Night following an investigation involving two separate incidents. 

In the early morning hours of December 8th, 2023, a parcel was stolen from a residence on Cambria Road in Goderich. On January 5^th, 2024, also in the early morning hours, a second incident took place at the same address where an individual searched the same victim’s mailbox for valuables. Huron County OPP officers were able to identify the suspect and locate them in the Town of Goderich on January 5^th.

The suspect was arrested and transported to the Huron OPP detachment for processing.

Lief EDWARDS, 37 years of age from no fixed address in the Goderich area has been charged with:

–      Theft Under $5,000,

–      Trespassing at Night – (two counts).

The accused was released from custody with a court appearance scheduled at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich on February 26^th, 2024. 

(ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH TWP, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged an Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township (ACW Twp) resident with a Prohibited Driving offence, along with several other offences following a traffic stop by police on December 27^th, 2023. 

On Wednesday morning, December 27^th at 4:05 a.m., Huron County OPP were patrolling in ACW Twp when they observed a driver operating a side-by-side utility vehicle with a utility trailer attached on Hall’s Hill Line.

A traffic stop was conducted, and police spoke to the male driver who was found to be prohibited from driving. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest and taken into custody. The accused was transported to the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for processing.

John VANDIEPENBEEK, 42 years of age from ACW Twp has been charged with:

–      Operation while Prohibited,

–      Breach of Recognizance,

–      Fail to Comply with Probation – (three counts).

The accused was additionally charged with one offence found in the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA), three offences found in the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), and one offence found in the Off-Road Vehicles Act (ORVA).

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for 45 days.

The accused was later released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for February 12^th, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

(HURON TWP, ON) – On December 28, 2023, at 11:49 p.m., members of the South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were conducting R.I.D.E. along Bruce County Road 86 in Huron Township when a vehicle stopped. Officers determined that the driver had been drinking alcohol.

They were placed under arrest and taken to a Qualified Intoxilizer Technician for breath tests.

Victer SMALL, 22-years-old, from the Township of Huron-Kinloss was charged with:

• Operate over 80 milligrams
• Drive while under Suspension – Two Counts

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Walkerton on February 28, 2024, to answer to the charges.

An impaired driving charge includes an immediate 90-day driver’s license suspension and an immediate 7-day vehicle impoundment.

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a Huron East resident with an Impaired Driving offence following a festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) check on Friday December 8th. 

Members of the Huron OPP were conducting a RIDE spot check at the intersection of Summerhill Road and Kinburn Line in the Municipality of Central Huron on December 8^th, 2023, when a vehicle entered the RIDE check just after 5:00 p.m.

Police spoke to the driver and determined that they had been consuming alcohol prior to driving. Police demanded a roadside breath sample which resulted in a failure. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for Impaired Operation, taken into custody, and transported to the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for further breath tests before an OPP qualified breath technician which resulted in breath samples exceeding the legal limit.

Timothy DUCHARME, 49 years of age from Huron East has been charged with:

–      Operation while Impaired – Over 80.

The accused was additionally charged with an offence under the Liquor Licence Control Act (LLCA).

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, and the accused’ driver’s license was suspended for a period of 90 days.

The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for January 15th, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a North Middlesex resident with Impaired Driving offences following a traffic complaint on Sunday December 10th. 

An off-duty police officer was driving North on Sharpes Creek Line in the Municipality of Central Huron just after 3:00 p.m. on December 10^th, 2023, when the officer observed a vehicle blocking traffic on the roadway. The officer contacted the Huron OPP to attend their location.

Police spoke to the driver and determined that they had been consuming alcohol prior to driving. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and taken into custody. The driver was transported to the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for further breath tests before an OPP qualified breath technician which resulted in breath samples exceeding three times the legal limit.

James STEELE, 30 years of age from North Middlesex has been charged with:

–      Operation while Impaired – alcohol and drugs,

–      Operation while Impaired – Over 80,

–      Dangerous Operation.

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, and the accused’ driver’s license was suspended for a period of 90 days.

The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for January 22nd, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

(SOUTH HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a South Huron resident with an Impaired Driving offence following a traffic complaint in the early evening hours of Saturday December 2nd, 2023. 

On December 2nd, just after 7:00 p.m., 2023, Huron County OPP officers were contacted by a concerned citizen who had observed a vehicle stopped sideways in the live lane of traffic on Hardy Street near Senior Street in the Municipality of South Huron, Exeter.

Police arrived on scene and located the driver seated inside the vehicle, which was against the curb. Police noted seven ducks in the rear seat as well. Police determined that the driver had been consuming alcohol prior to driving. A demand was made by police for a sample of the driver’s breath into the roadside screening device, which resulted in a failure. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and taken into custody. The driver was transported to the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for further breath tests with an OPP qualified breath technician.

Thuong HA, 59 years of age from South Huron has been charged with:

–      Operation while Impaired – Over 80.

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, and the accused’ driver’s license was suspended for a period of 90 days.

The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for January 8th, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

Note: The duck “passengers” were later picked up by the owner.

(SOUTH HURON, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a South Huron resident with an Impaired Driving offence following a traffic stop in the early evening hours of Friday December 1st, 2023. 

On December 1^st, just before 8:30 p.m., 2023, Huron County OPP officers were conducting stationary observations at an intersection in the Municipality of South Huron, Exeter. A motor vehicle was observed turning left, and almost caused a collision with another motor vehicle.

Police conducted a traffic stop and spoke to the driver. Police determined that the driver had been consuming alcohol prior to driving. A demand was made by police for a sample of the driver’s breath into the roadside screening device, which resulted in a failure. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for Impaired Operation and taken into custody. The driver was transported to the Huron OPP detachment in Clinton for further breath tests with an OPP qualified breath technician.

Robert KAINZ, 42 years of age from South Huron has been charged with:

–      Operation while Impaired – Over 80.

The accused was also charged with two additional offences under the Highway Traffic Act.

The involved vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, and the accused’ driver’s license was suspended for a period of 90 days.

The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for January 8th, 2024, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.