(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – Shortly after 5:00 p.m. on May 9, 2014 Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers along with North Huron Fire Department firefighters responded to a structure fire located on Londesboro Road in Central Huron. Upon arrival fire crews found a single dwelling residence fully engulfed by fire.
Fire crews were able to prevent the spread of the fire however damages to the unoccupied residence were extensive. Later, at 6:42 p.m. an officer on scene watched a driver pull his Chevrolet Sierra pickup into the residence laneway. The driver ended up parking his vehicle on top of a fire hose that was being used by fire crews at the scene.
The driver exited his vehicle and spoke with an officer on scene. After speaking with the driver the investigating officer noted the driver had been drinking alcohol and was displaying signs of impairment. The driver was arrested for Impaired Driving and transported to the Exeter OPP Detachment for breath tests.
He provided two samples of his breath to a qualified Intoxilizer Technician; both tests were over the legal limit.
Further investigation revealed the driver was bound by a probation order to “Keep the Peace and Be of Good Behaviourâ€Â.
As a result, Stephen FREEMAN, 48, from Central Huron has been charged with Impaired Driving, Drive Motor Vehicle – Over 80 Milligrams of Alcohol and Fail to Comply with Probation Order.
He has a court appearance scheduled for the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich on May 26, 2014. He received an automatic 90 day driver’s licence suspension and his motor vehicle has been impounded for seven days.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.