Category: MADAWASKA VALLEY

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MADAWASKA VALLEY Police Press Releases Renfrew

Daniel GASS – Drunk Driving

(RENFREW, ON) – The Renfrew Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged one person after responding to traffic complaint in the Town of Renfrew.

On Monday, February 16, 2026, at approximately 6:55 p.m., Renfrew OPP officers responded to a traffic complaint in the Town of Renfrew.

The vehicle was located by officers traveling on Calabogie Road in Greater Madawaska Township.  A traffic stop was initiated.

As a result of the investigation, Daniel GASS age 38 of Greater Madawaska Township was charged with:

–      Operation while impaired- alcohol

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

The accused was released and scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on March 18, 2026. 

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MADAWASKA VALLEY OPP Police Press Releases

Justin KOSNASKIE – Impaired Operation

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TWP, ON) – A driver is facing several charges after a vehicle was stopped as a result of a RIDE Program in Madawaska Valley Township (MVTP). 

On February 18, 2026, at approximately 9:00 p.m., officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) encountered a vehicle at a RIDE Program in MVTP. As part of the investigation a Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) was conducted, and further testing was conducted by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer at the detachment. Cannabis was seized by police during the investigation. 

As a result of this incident 21-year-old Justin KOSNASKIE of MVTP has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC), Highway Traffic Act (HTA), and Cannabis Control Act (CCA) offences:

·        Operation while impaired – drugs

·        Drive motor vehicle – fail to display two plates

·        Driver fail to surrender licence

·        Have care or control of a vehicle with cannabis readily available

The accused had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on March 16, 2026.

The Upper Ottawa Valley OPP is committed to making our roadways safe with RIDE programs throughout the year, at any time of the day or night.

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MADAWASKA VALLEY OPP Police Press Releases

Damien MINTEN Arrested After Firearm & Impaired Driving Incident

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TWP., ON.) – The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a driver with impaired after a traffic complaint.

On September 3, 2025, just before 6:00 p.m., OPP officers were advised of a vehicle in a local business parking lot with the person behind the wheel who appeared intoxicated. Police located the vehicle and driver. The driver was transported to the detachment for testing.

Damien MINTEN, 20 years old, of Watford was charged with impaired operation as well as careless storage of a firearm.

The accused had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. They were released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on October 6, 2025. 

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MADAWASKA VALLEY OPP Police Press Releases

Stephen FINNERTY – Drunk Driving

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TWP, ON) – Members of the Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to two separate collisions on Siberia Road on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Police responded to a single vehicle collision in the early afternoon. The driver was transported to an Ottawa area trauma centre with significant injuries. The investigation is on-going.

As police were conducting their investigation, a secondary collision had occurred down the road involving a single vehicle.

As part of the investigation, officers utilized an approved screening device, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing. As a result, 64-year-old Stephen FINNERTY is charged with:

·      Operation while impaired

·      Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on September 16, 2025

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MADAWASKA VALLEY OPP Police Press Releases

Pervert Alert – Glen FERGUSON Arrested

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TOWNSHIP, ON) – An ongoing investigation has led to criminal charges against a Killaloe resident.

On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began an investigation when it was reported that a male had been committing an indecent act in a car while driving.

The investigation determined that the incident took place on July 23, 2025, and that the male had offered to provide a ride to and from Ottawa for an adult female and two female teenagers. The indecent acts were said to have happened after the adult female fell asleep.

Glen FERGUSON, age 64 of Killaloe, was arrested on Thursday, August 7, 2025, and faces two counts of committing an indecent act.

The accused remains in custody, with a bail hearing scheduled for Monday, August 11, 2025, before the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke.

This remains an active investigation, and it cannot be ruled out that there may be additional victims. If you have any information, contact the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you have information but want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report online at Renfrew County Crime Stoppers.

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MADAWASKA VALLEY OPP Police Press Releases

Ali Anne BIERNASKIE Was Arrested

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TWP, ON) – An area resident is facing a driving-related charge under the Criminal Code (CC) after a traffic stop in Barrys Bay on the afternoon of March 23, 2025.  Members of the Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Highway 60 after an alert was received from the Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) integrated with the police cruiser’s In-Car Camera (ICC).     

As a result of this investigation 37-year-old Ali Anne BIERNASKIE of Killaloe-Hagarty-Richards Township is charged with the following CC offence:

·        Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code

The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on May 12, 2025, and their vehicle was towed and impounded for 45 days. 

The ALPR system can read thousands of licence plates per minute allowing officers to process more information on licence plates. It also has the capability of capturing vehicles of interest such as Amber Alerts, drivers with a suspended licence and stolen vehicles. 

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Drugs MADAWASKA VALLEY

Lorenzo CATALANO – Trafficking

(MADAWASKA VALLEY TWP, ON) – The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a person with drug charges after a R.I.D.E. check in Madawaska Valley Township.

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, shortly after 9:30 p.m., officers set up a R.I.D.E. checkpoint on Bay Street in Barry’s Bay. One person was arrested after a Roadside Screening Device was utilized. The individual was transported to the detachment for further testing. During the search of the vehicle, officers located suspected cocaine, suspected methamphetamine, suspected heroin, as well as cash.

Lorenzo CATALANO, 56 years old, of Richmond Hill was charged with two counts of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking as well as possession of a schedule I substance.

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on April 1, 2025.