NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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Barrie Police Service came across three impaired drivers between the times of 6:10 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. on Thursday, ranging in age from 26 to 66-years-old.
On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 6:10 p.m. police received multiple calls after a vehicle travelling eastbound on Lakeshore Drive, in the City of Barrie, suddenly accelerated and drove over a center median, across oncoming traffic, through a chain link fence slamming into the side of a building.
When police arrived on scene the driver was arrested for impaired driving and was transported to Royal Victoria Regional Health Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the incident.
Extensive damage was reported to the fence, the truck and a building on the GO Transit property. The 66-year-old Barrie male has been charged with Impaired Driving and will attend court later this month.
On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 10:40 p.m. police received a call from a concerned citizen who was concerned she was being followed by a suspicious vehicle from Wasaga Beach into the City of Barrie.
The vehicle was stopped on Big Point Road while still following behind the complainant. While police were investigating the intent of the driver, it was suspected he was under the influence of alcohol while driving his motor vehicle.
A roadside test was administered with the male blowing a fail. He was transported to the Barrie Police Service for further breath samples. The 26-year-old Oro-Medonte male was charged with blood alcohol over 80mgs and will be in a Barrie court in mid-July.
On Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 11:45 p.m. an officer was driving to a non-related call for service when a vehicle exited a private drive on St. Vincent Street, in the City of Barrie, cutting off and almost causing a collision with the police car.
The officer driving the marked police car observed the vehicle did not have lights on as it continued to travel south on St. Vincent Street. The vehicle was stopped as it pulled into a gas station at St. Vincent Street and Grove Street where the driver told police he was going to buy cigarettes.
The officer suspected the driver had been consuming alcohol and a roadside test was administered with the male blowing a fail. He was transported to the Barrie Police Service for further breath samples where he blew over double the legal limit.
The investigation also revealed the male had left a youth at home alone when he ran out to buy his cigarettes. Family assisted with finding a safe place for the youth to stay for the night while the accused sobered up at the Barrie Police Service.
The 35-year-old Barrie male has been charged with blood alcohol over 80mgs as well as fail to yield from driveway and fail to surrender drivers licence contrary to the Highway Traffic Act. He will attend a Barrie court later this month to answer to his charges.
In each of these incidents, the charged drivers received a 90-day licence suspension; as well each of the vehicles were impounded for seven (7) days.
We want to thank the members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1. If you see dangerous driving or believe a driver is under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, you are encouraged to contact police immediately.
Behaviour that could jeopardize the safety of motorists and pedestrians is considered a life-threatening crime in progress and we will continue to respond to these calls.
Barrie Police Service thanks the citizens who chose to make the right decision not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and plan ahead for a safe ride home.
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