Five people have been charged by Orillia OPP with impaired driving in the past six days.
On June 13 at 4 p.m., police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Wallis Street in Oro-Medonte Township. Officers attended, located the vehicle and driver, and saw an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. The driver was showing “numerous signs of being intoxicated,” police said in a news release.
Christopher Wilson, 48, of Severn Township, has been charged with operation while impaired, failure or refusal to comply with a demand, breach of a probation order, failure to identify himself, driving while under suspension, and having care or control of a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor. He was held for a bail hearing and was later released with a future court date.
On June 15 at about 2 a.m., police were conducting RIDE checks in Orillia. A driver approached and “did not follow basic instructions of a RIDE program,” police said, adding he displayed signs of being intoxicated.
Kevin Backwell, 27, of Nassagaweya Township, has been charged with operation while impaired (alcohol) and operation while impaired (blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus). He was released on an undertaking with a future court date.
On June 15 at 1 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Highway 11 and Line 10 in Oro-Medonte when a vehicle was seen being driven above the speed limit. The vehicle was pulled over and the officer noticed open containers of alcohol and cannabis.
Daniel Thomas, 45, of Orillia, has been charged with operation while impaired (alcohol and drugs), possession of a Schedule 1 substance (cocaine), driving a motor vehicle with an open container of liquor, driving a motor vehicle with cannabis readily available, stunt driving, driving a motor vehicle with no currently validated permit, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. He was held for a bail hearing.
On June 16 at 11:30 p.m., officers were conducting speed enforcement on Highway 11 North in Oro-Medonte when a vehicle was seen being driven above the speed limit.
Brent Moon, 50, of Oro-Medonte, has been charged with operation while impaired (alcohol), operation while impaired (blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus), and speeding. He was released on an undertaking with a future court date.
On June 18, shortly before 2 a.m., police responded to a complaint about a possible impaired driver.
Justin Karjalainen, 41, of Barrie, has been charged with operation while impaired (alcohol) and operation while impaired (blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus). He was released on an undertaking with a future court date.
None of the allegations against any of the accused have been tested in court and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
