Category: Atikokan

(ATIKOKAN, ON) – An impaired driver that hit the ditch prompted a 9-1-1 call from a concerned citizen.

On April 1, 2025, at approximately 7:30 pm, officers with the Atikokan Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a 9-1-1 call from a concerned citizen reporting that an impaired driver was in the ditch in the Steep Rock Road area of town.

Officers attended and verified that alcohol was involved in the collision. An approved screening device test was demanded. The driver failed the test and was arrested at the scene. The driver was then transported to the Atikokan Detachment where additional breath testing was completed.

Savannah BARR, 29-years-old from Atikokan is charged criminally with one count operation while impaired drugs and alcohol, and one count of operation while impaired blood alcohol concentration 80 mgs and over. The involved vehicle was impounded for seven days, and the accused received a 90-day driver licence suspension.

The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on May 29, 2025, to answer to the charges.

The OPP remains committed to taking alcohol/drug-impaired drivers off our roads through enforcement and public education. If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 9-1-1 to report it.

(ATIKOKAN, ON) – Mandatory alcohol screening detected an impaired driver who was stopped for a moving violation.  

On March 3, 2025, at approximately 3:00 am, members of the Atikokan Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stopped a vehicle after seeing a stop sign related moving violation.

Officers demanded alcohol screening as part of the traffic stop. The driver failed the mandatory alcohol screening and was arrested at the scene. The driver was transported to the Atikokan Detachment where additional breath testing was completed by way of demand.

Carter MacDonald, 23-years-old, from Atikokan is charged criminally with one count of impaired operation alcohol or drug, and one count of impaired operation blood alcohol concentration 80 mgs and over. The accused was also charged provincially with a novice driver and insurance violation.    

The accused driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days. The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on March 27, 2025, to speak to the charges

Under Canada’s Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) law, drivers must immediately comply with a police officer’s demand for a breath sample, even in the absence of any suspicion that they have consumed alcohol. If you suspect that a driver is impaired, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. By doing so, you could be saving a life.

(ATIKOKAN ON,) Members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged an individual following a traffic complaint.

On February 17, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m. the Provincial Communications Centre received a phone call from a concerned citizen who reported a possible impaired driver as they had observed concerning driving behaviour. Police began patrolling the Town of Atikokan looking for the motor vehicle

At approximately 3:00 a.m. police located a vehicle parked at the corner of MacKenzie Avenue and Mercury Avenue in the Town of Atikokan matching the description. Police found the driver to be sleeping in the driver’s seat.

While speaking with the driver, the investigating officer observed signs of intoxication and conducted an impaired driving investigation.

As a result of the investigation, JOHN MANFORD a 18-year-old male from Atikokan Ontario was charged with:

• Operation while Impaired – Alcohol and Drugs contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
• Operation while Impaired – Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.

A 90-day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension (ADLS) and a seven-day vehicle impoundment was initiated as per statute.

The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Atikokan on the 27th of March, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.

If you have an urgent traffic complaint or if you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by drugs or alcohol, please call 911 immediately. If you have a non-emergency traffic complaint, you may also call 1-888-310-1122 or www.opp.ca/reportacrime. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com/273. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000.

(ATIKOKAN, ON) – Two separate single vehicle collisions with the ditch ended with drivers facing criminal impaired charges.

On January 8, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., members of the Atikokan Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 11 near Seine River.

Officers attended and found the driver of the vehicle to be obviously impaired by drug consumption. The driver was arrested at the scene and transported to the Atikokan Detachment where a Drug Recognition Evaluation was completed by way of demand.

Heather SOLOMON, 48-years old, from Garden River Ontario is charged with one count of impaired operation alcohol or drug, one count of dangerous operation, one count of possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and one count of care or control of a vehicle with cannabis readily available. The accused’s vehicle was impounded for seven days, and driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days.

The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on January 30, 2025, to speak to the charges.

On January 12, 2025, at approximately 2:30 a.m., members of the Atikokan OPP responded to another report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 11 near Lerome Lake.

Investigation determined that the driver was obviously impaired by alcohol consumption. The driver was arrested at the scene and transported to the Atikokan Detachment where breath testing was completed by demand.

Brette CAIN, 35-years-old, from Atikokan Ontario is charged with one count of impaired operation alcohol or drug, and one count of impaired operation blood alcohol concentration 80 milligrams and over. The accused’s driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days, and vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on January 30, 2025, to speak to the charges.

Impaired driving continues to be a serious public safety issue on local roads and highways. If you suspect someone is driving while impaired call 911. Road safety is the shared responsibility of all road users.

(ATIKOKAN, ON) – A traffic complaint about a motorhome swerving on the road ended with the arrest of an impaired driver.

On September 2, 2024, at approximately 8:00 pm, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Atikokan responded to a report of a motorhome that was swerving all over the road. Officers located the vehicle on Highway 11 near Armis Lake and conducted a vehicle stop.

The responding officer determined that the driver had been consuming alcohol and conducted a roadside screening test. The driver failed the test and was arrested and transported to the Atikokan OPP detachment where additional breath testing was completed by demand.  

Reginald Galbraith, 72-years-old, from Thunder Bay is charged with one count of impaired operation blood alcohol concentration 80 mgs plus. The accused’s driver’s license was suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for 7 days.

The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on October 24, 2024, to speak to the charge.

Fact about impaired driving, the offence of impaired operation doesn’t mean the vehicle or conveyance needs to be moving. In law, operation is presumed if a person is occupying the driver’s seat. The onus is on the accused to establish that they did not occupy that seat for the purpose of setting the conveyance in motion. Road safety is the shared responsibility of everyone. If you suspect an impaired driver, call 9-1-1.   

(ATIKOKAN, ON) – A public complaint that some obviously intoxicated people were trying to get a work truck out of the ditch resulted in charges for a Winnipeg resident.  

On July 19, 2024, at approximately 5:00 pm, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Atikokan received a public complaint about a work truck in the ditch near Mathieu Road east of Atikokan.

Atikokan OPP responded and identified an involved person thanks to assistance from the public. Investigation confirmed that alcohol was a factor in the incident. One person was arrested at the scene and transported to the Atikokan Detachment where alcohol breath testing was completed by demand.  

Edward JESSOP, 49-years-old, from Winnipeg MB is charged criminally with one count of impaired operation alcohol or drug, and one count of impaired operation blood alcohol concentration 80 plus. The accused also received a 90-day drivers licence suspension, and the work truck was impounded for 7 days.

The accused was released by police and is scheduled to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on August 22, 2024, to answer to the charges.

The OPP is committed to improving road safety through proactive enforcement, public awareness, and high-quality traffic incident investigations. You the public play an important role in helping to keep our roads safe. If you suspect someone is driving while impaired, call 911.