Huron OPP report alcohol charge; drug charges; suspended driver; and Festive RIDE results

DRIVER CAUGHT IN AFTERNOON RIDE CHECKPOINT

(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – A 39-year-old Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh man is facing an Over-80 charge, following a traffic stop that took place this past weekend. 

At 3:25 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, a Dodge Ram pick-up truck entered a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoint that was set up on Benmiller Line near Hemlock Lane. 

A Huron County OPP officer spoke with the male driver and while speaking with him, detected the driver had been drinking some alcohol. As a result, the driver was directed to provide a sample of his breath into a roadside screening device. The test was administered and the driver registered a Fail. He was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Huron OPP detachment for breath tests. He provided two samples of his breath to a qualified Intoxilizer Technician and both of his samples registered over the legal limit.
 
39-year-old Daniel SHETLER of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh has been charged with Drive Motor Vehicle – Over-80 milligrams (mg) of alcohol. He has been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 9, 2017, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. He also received an automatic 90-day driver’s licence suspension and his vehicle was towed and impounded for the week.

DRUG POSSESSION CHARGES LAID AGAINST DRIVER

(GODERICH, ON) – An early morning traffic stop Saturday, Dec. 3, has resulted in a number of charges against a Huron County resident. 

Just before 2:30 a.m.. Huron County OPP officers on patrol observed a Chrysler Intrepid travelling at a very slow speed from St. Andrew’s Street onto Nelson Street East. In addition, officers noted the back window of the vehicle was completely fogged up. As a result, a traffic stop was conducted on Nelson Street East. 

While speaking with the male driver, one of the officers observed a small quantity of marijuana lying on the passenger seat. It was quickly determined the driver was in illegal possession of the drug. A search of the driver and the vehicle was conducted which resulted in officers seizing a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine. 

A subsequent check on the driver revealed he was currently serving a probation sentence in the community. As a result of his offences, the driver was also placed under arrest for Failing to Comply with Conditions of his Probation Order. 34-year-old Joseph SYKES of Goderich has been charged with Possession of a Schedule II Substance (Marijuana), Possession of a Schedule I Substance (Methamphetamine), and two counts of Fail to Comply with Probation Order. He has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 12, at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. 

SUSPENDED DRIVER DOUBLE-DOWNS AND LOSES

(CENTRAL HURON and ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH, ON) – A 45-year-old suspended driver of Waterloo decided to take a chance he wouldn’t get stopped by police – it turns out, he didn’t get stopped just once last week, but twice, about 90 minutes apart. 

At approximately 9:20 p.m., Nov. 30, officers in a Huron County OPP patrol vehicle spotted a Dodge Caravan travelling eastbound into Clinton on Ontario Street. Officers noted the validation sticker on the attached rear licence plate had expired. The driver was stopped and during the course of the investigation, officers also learned he was driving with a suspended driver’s licence. He was subsequently charged and his vehicle was towed away.  T

his should have been the end of the story that night for this driver, but he had other plans.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m., Huron OPP officers encountered the same vehicle and driver now travelling westbound on Londesboro Road. The defiant driver was charged again and his motor vehicle was towed away for the second time that evening.

45-year-old Todd COYNE of Waterloo has been charged with Drive While Under Suspension (two counts) and Drive Motor Vehicle – No Validation on Plate. He will have to attend Provincial Offences Act Court in Goderich, Jan. 17, 2017, to answer to his charges.

FESTIVE RIDE CHECKPOINTS CONTINUE IN HURON COUNTY

(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County OPP officers have been very busy with their Festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoints during the first two weeks of the annual campaign. A total of 116 checkpoints has been set up throughout the county.

The increased number of checkpoints and heightened public awareness during the Festive RIDE campaign, will undoubtedly help to keep our Huron County roadways as safe as possible. With that being said, a small percentage of drivers still continue to take unnecessary risks and endanger others on the roadway.

Here are some of the highlights over the past weekend at our Huron County RIDE checkpoints:
 

• A 39-year-old male driver of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh failed a roadside test and was charged with Over-80 after being stopped at a RIDE checkpoint located near Benmiller Dec. 3
• A 34-year-old male driver of Windsor entered into a RIDE checkpoint in Dashwood Dec 3, and was found to be breaching his curfew conditions. In addition to this offence, the validation sticker on his licence plate was expired
• A 46-year-old male of South Huron had open beer in his vehicle when he pulled into a RIDE checkpoint Saturday afternoon in South Huron
• A 62-year-old driver of Clinton attempted to avoid a RIDE checkpoint set up in Morris-Turnberry, Sunday afternoon. Officers stopped the driver and he was found to have open alcohol in his truck
• A 46-year-old male driver of Huron East entered a RIDE checkpoint located on Kinburn Line at Front Road Sunday evening. He had open alcohol in his truck and his breath sample registered in the warn range. He was served with a three-day suspension and was ticketed for the open alcohol offence.

Huron OPP officers will continue with their Festive RIDE checks all through the month of December and through to the first weekend in January, 2017. If you plan to drink or consume drugs, do not get behind the wheel. Arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi, stay overnight or take public transit. If you suspect that someone is driving or is about to drive, impaired,  call 9-1-1 and report.
 

*THESE CHARGES HAVE YET TO BE PROVEN IN COURT*