(ESSEX COUNTY, ON) – Fourteen drivers were arrested for impaired related offences in Essex County from December 23, 2005 to January 4, 2026.
On December 23, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) checkpoint to examine the sobriety of drivers on Main Street in Comber in the Municipality of Lakeshore.
Terry CHURCH, 60-years-old of Wheatley, was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 6, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 24, 2025, at approximately 8:12 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a single vehicle collision on Gore Road in Harrow of the Town of Essex.
Heather-Marie KEOGH, 42-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Dangerous Operation
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 7, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 26, 2025, at approximately 2:20 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Queen Street in the Municipality of Leamington.
Renee POTVIN, 45-years-old of Leamington was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 8, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 27, 2025, at approximately 4:05 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint around Lesperance Road and McNorton Street in the Town of Tecumseh.
Robert HAYES, 55-years-old of Tecumseh was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 7, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 27, 2025, at approximately 6:53 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a two-vehicle collision on Rourke Line Road in the Municipality of Lakeshore.
Craig TOWE, 42-years-old of Belle River was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
- Dangerous Operation
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 9, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 27, 2025, at approximately 8:49 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on Erie Street South in the Municipality of Leamington.
Isak NEUFELD, 40-years-old of Leamington was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code and Liquor Licence Control Act offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
- Mischief – Interfere with lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property – under $5000 (two counts)
- Having care or control of a motor vehicle with open container of liquor
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 15, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On December 28, 2025, at approximately 5:19 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on County Road 34 in the Ruthven area of the Town of Kingsville.
Christopher WATSON, 53-years-old of Pelee Island was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code, Highway Traffic Act and Canadian Cannabis Act offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available
- Drive without proper rear light – motor vehicle
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 30, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 1, 2026, at approximately 9:54 a.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on Lesperance Road in the Town of Tecumseh.
Stepan POHAIDAK, 51-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Dangerous Operation
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 15, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 1, 2026, at approximately 4:09 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on Marlborough Street East in the Town of Leamington.
Victoria HATHAWAY, 51-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code and Highway Traffic Act offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 (Two counts)
- Having care or control of a motor vehicle with liquor readily available
- Class G1 licence holder – unaccompanied by qualified driver
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 14, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 2, 2026, at approximately 6:31 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on Manning Road in the Town of Tecumseh.
Melki FLORES MARTINEZ, 42-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 11, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 2, 2026, at approximately 7:43 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on County Road 22 near I.C. Roy Drive in the Municipality of Lakeshore.
Todd LARAMIE, 64-years-old of Windsor, was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code, Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act, and Highway Traffic Act offences:
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Fail to have insurance card
- Fail to surrender permit for motor vehicle
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 15, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 3, 2026, at approximately 3:43 a.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a single motor vehicle collision on Highway 401 near the Manning Road exit in the Municipality of Lakeshore.
Iva BIELSKYTE, 19-years-old of Brantford, was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code, Liquor Licence Control Act, and Highway Traffic Act offences:
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Drive motor vehicle with liquor readily available
- Young driver – B.A.C. above zero
- Novice driver – B.A.C. above zero
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 13, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 3, 2026, at approximately 7:46 p.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Talbot Street North in the Town of Essex.
Joseph ALBANO, 51-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 20, 2026, to answer to the charges.
On January 4, 2026, at approximately 3:26 a.m., members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated a traffic complaint on Tecumseh Road in the Town of Tecumseh.
Jasmin KAHRIMAN, 37-years-old of Windsor was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
The accused was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice – Windsor on January 14, 2026, to answer to the charges.
A 90-day Administrative Driver’s License Suspension (ADLS) and a seven-day vehicle impoundment was initiated as per statute for all charged drivers.
The safety of our community is paramount, and we will continue to enforce impaired driving laws to keep our roads safe. “Traffic Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility”.
If you have an urgent traffic complaint or if you suspect someone is driving while their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by drugs of alcohol, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
If you have a non-emergency traffic complaint, you may also call 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
