Category: CENTRE HASTINGS

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases

Drug Bust – LAKE & SAVOY

(CENTRE HASTINGS, ON) – Two people face charges after a drug seizure in Madoc.

On Tuesday February 10, 2026, The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) East Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) executed a search warrant at a residence on Durham Street. The OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP Canine Unit and members of the Central Hastings OPP assisted with the investigation and warrant.

Two people were arrested without incident and officers seized over 3.5 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine and over five grams suspected psilocybin. They also seized a prohibited knife and items typically associated with drug trafficking. 

David LAKE, age 45, and Sarah SAVOY, age 42, both of Centre Hastings have each been charged with:

• Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking

• Possession of Schedule 3 substance for the purpose of trafficking

• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of a weapon

LAKE is additionally charged with failure to comply with an undertaking.

SAVOY is additionally charged with two counts of failure to comply with a probation order.

Both accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on May 4, 2026.  

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases Tay Valley

Benjamin CLARKE Facing Numerous Charges

(CENTRE HASTINGS TOWNSHIP, ON) – An individual is facing a long list of charges after a suspected impaired driver was reported in Centre Hastings.

On Thursday, December 18, 2025, shortly after 7:00 p.m., officers with the Central Hastings Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a possible impaired driver at a gas station on Highway 62. The vehicle was located and stopped on Highway 7.

A roadside alcohol screening device was utilized, and the driver was arrested and transported to the detachment for further testing.

As a result, Benjamin CLARKE, age 36 of Tay Valley Township, has been charged with:

  • Operation while impaired – alcohol
  • Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
  • Driving with an open container of liquor
  • Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code – two counts
  • Driving while under suspension – Highway Traffic Act
  • Driving a vehicle with cannabis in open packing
  • Driving a vehicle with no validated permit
  • Failing to comply with a probation order – two counts

The accused was held in custody and is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on Friday, December 19, 2025. The individual’s licence had previously been suspended indefinitely, and the vehicle was impounded for 45 days.

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases

ATV, Pickup, and Passenger Vehicle — All Result in Impaired Charges

(CENTRE HASTINGS, ON) – The Central Hastings Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid impaired driving charges in three separate investigations over the weekend.

On Friday November 21, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., officers from Central Hastings OPP were conducting a R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program on Crookston Road. in the Municipality of Centre Hastings. A driver was stopped, and open alcohol was located within the vehicle. The driver provided a sample of their breath into an approved alcohol screening device at the roadside. Subsequently, the driver was arrested and transported to the Central Hastings Detachment for further testing.

Garrett GRUNWALD, age 41, from Centre Hastings, was charged with operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration (80 plus). 

The following day on Saturday November 22, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., officers from Central Hastings OPP were on patrol on Old Marmora Road in Centre Hastings when they observed an all-terrain vehicle parked on the roadway and the driver standing next to it. An approved alcohol screening device was utilized, and the driver was arrested and transported to Central Hastings Detachment for further testing.

John OLEKA, age 61, from Centre Hastings was charged with:

• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

• Operation while prohibited

• Driving while under suspension – two counts 

• Operate motor vehicle without insurance

The following day on Sunday November 23, 2025, at approximately 8:15 a.m., officers from Central Hastings OPP received a phone call from a concerned citizen that a pickup truck, with front-end damage was parked on the side of Highway 62 in Tudor and Cashel Township. Officers from Central Hastings detachment arrived, arrested the driver and transported the individual to the Bancroft Detachment for further testing.

Austin STURMAN, age 31, from Port Perry was charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol 

• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) 

All three accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on December 18, 2025. Their vehicles were impounded for seven days, and their driver’s licence suspended for ninety days.

If you suspect that someone is driving or about to drive impaired, call 9-1-1 and report it. You could save lives.

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases

Repeat Offender Sends One To Hospital With Serious Injuries #3Strikes

(CENTRE HASTINGS TWP., ON) – An individual, wanted in connection with a serious assault in Centre Hastings, has been arrested and taken into custody.

On Monday, April 14, 2025, just before 7:00 p.m., officers with the Central Hastings Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to an assault on Wellington Street.

When they arrived at the scene, officers located a seriously injured male who was transported to hospital by Hastings-Quinte Paramedics.

On Friday, April 25, 2025, members of the OPP Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) squad arrested the wanted male without incident at a residence in Tweed.

Samuel KOCH, age 44 of Centre Hastings, is charged with:

  • Aggravated assault
  • Uttering threats to cause death of bodily harm – two counts
  • Theft
  • Failing to comply with a probation order

The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice in Belleville on Monday, April 28, 2025.

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases

Aggravated Assault – Repeat Offender Samuel KOCH Wanted By Police

(CENTRE HASTINGS TWP., ON) – An arrest warrant has been issued in connection with a serious assault in Centre Hastings.

On Monday, April 14, 2025, just before 7:00 p.m., officers with the Central Hastings Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to an assault on Wellington Street.

When they arrived at the scene, officers located a seriously injured male who was transported to hospital by Hastings-Quinte Paramedics. A second male was also transported to hospital as a precaution. A third person reported that the male had earlier taken their phone while brandishing a knife.

The attacker had fled the scene prior to the arrival of police.

As a result of the investigation, an arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel KOCH, age 44 of Centre Hastings, for charges of:

  • Aggravated assault
  • Uttering threats to cause death of bodily harm – two counts
  • Theft
  • Failing to comply with a probation order

KOCH is described as:

  • 185 cm (6’1″) tall
  • Thin build
  • Brown hair and brown eyes

A photo of the accused is attached.

Anyone with information on the incident, or relevant doorbell or dashcam video should contact the Central Hastings OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and refer to incident E250454250.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Samuel KOCH should also call the OPP immediately. Do not approach this individual.

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CENTRE HASTINGS OPP Police Press Releases

Arrests At RIDE

(CENTRE HASTINGS, ON) – The Central Hastings Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid an impaired driving charge and other charges at Festive RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs.

On Thursday, December 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., Central Hastings OPP officers were conducting a RIDE at Cordova Road in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake. A roadside screening device was utilized on one driver and the individual was transported to the detachment for further testing.

Josh HUGHES, age 37 of Marmora was arrested and charged with operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).

The individual’s driver’s licence has been suspended for 90 days (Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension) and vehicle has been impounded for seven days.

On Sunday, December 29, 2024, just after midnight. Central Hastings OPP was conducting a RIDE program on Durham Street in the Village of Madoc. One motorist registered an “alert” on the roadside screening device. As a result, the 20-year-old male from Tweed was issued a three-day Automatic Drivers Licence Suspension. He was also charged for having liquor readily available in the vehicle.

On Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 11:45 p.m., officers were conducting a RIDE program on Highway 37, just south of Highway 7 in the Municipality of Tweed. They encountered a novice driver who was unable who was unable to surrender his driver’s licence, had no proof of insurance and was using a licence plate not authorized for the vehicle. A 22-year-old from Brampton was charged and his vehicle was towed from the scene.