SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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The South Simcoe Police Service completed its third week of the Festive RIDE campaign and sadly, it was a very busy one that included a pursuit and a drug seizure. To date, officers have stopped 2,815 vehicles and laid 15 impaired driving charges.
Some of the incidents include:
On Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at approximately 8:30 p.m., police were conducting a Festive RIDE spot check in the area of Simcoe Road, near Zima Crescent in Bradford. Officers spoke to a driver at the spot check and he was subsequently arrested. As a result of the investigation, a 66-year-old Bradford man was charged with operation while impaired and operation while impaired - excess blood alcohol. a 90-day licence suspension was issued and seven-day vehicle impound.
On Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at approximately 10 p.m., police pulled over a vehicle for a stop sign violation in the area of John Street and Church Street in Innisfil. As a result of the investigation, a 39-year-old Toronto man was charged with numerous offences including operation while impaired, failure or refusal to comply with demand, failure to comply with judicial release and operation while prohibited. His vehicle was impounded for 45 days and his licence suspended for seven days.
On Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at approximately 1:16 a.m., police conducting a Festive RIDE program in the Innisfil Beach Road and Sideroad 10 observed a vehicle conduct a U-turn away from the spot check. Police moved to intercept the vehicle which accelerated at a high rate of speed northbound on Highway 400. Officers attempted to conduct a rolling block to bring the vehicle to a stop but the vehicle tried to pass the police vehicle, lost control. and struck the cruiser. The cruiser sustained minor damage but fortunately the officer was not injured. The investigation is ongoing. Police are appealing for witnesses.
On Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at approximately 8:30 p.m., police were dispatched to 6th Line and 5 Sideroad area for a report of an erratic driver. Police arrived on scene and located the vehicle parked in the westbound lane of 6th Line. As a result of the investigation, the driver was arrested for impaired driving. He was subsequently transported to hospital as a precaution. Charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.
On Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at approximately 11:23 p.m., police responded to a report of a suspected impaired driver in a parking lot on Holland Street West in Bradford. As a result of the investigation, a 40-year-old Wasaga Beach woman was charged with operation while impaired and drug possession. Her licence was suspended for 90 days and her vehicle impounded for seven days. A 37-year-old male passenger from Angus was arrested on a bench warrant for Impaired operation by another police service and also charged with drug possession. Police seized drugs including suspected crack cocaine, suspected methamphetamine and suspected fentanyl.
Festive RIDE Numbers To Date:
- Vehicles checked – 2,815
- Roadside Breath Tests –148
- Roadside Drug Tests – 7
- 3 day suspension (Alcohol) – 9
- 3 day suspension BAC Above Zero (Novice/Young/Commercial) – 5
- 3 day suspension (Drug) – 5
- 80 Over – 11
- Impaired – 4
- Cannabis Readily Available– 13
- Liquor Licence Act – 4
- Highway Traffic Act – 11
- Other Criminal Code – 6 including multiple for breach court order
Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is a crime in progress and members of the public are urged to call 911 immediately to report a suspected impaired driver. Thank you to those residents who help keep our roads safe by driving sober and reporting suspected impaired drivers.
A separate release with a list of those charged with impaired driving will be posted on our website.
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