(WEST NIPISSING, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrested and charged one person with multiple offences after the execution of a search warrant at a local motel.
On February 16, 2026, at approximately 9:30 p.m., members of the North Bay OPP – Mattawa Detachment, began an investigation involving the theft of fuel from a local gas station, the suspect vehicle was reported to be traveling west on Highway 17. With the assistance of the North Bay Detachment and the Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (T.I.M.E.) Team of the OPP, the vehicle was located in North Bay but failed to stop for police and continued west bound.
Later that evening, members from the Nipissing West Detachment of the OPP located the vehicle parked at a hotel in West Nipissing. With the assistance of the North Bay Crime Unit and Emergency Response Team (ERT) of the OPP, one person was arrested without incident and a search warrant was executed on both the vehicle and hotel room.
A search of the both the vehicle, which had been reported stolen and the hotel room, led to the seizure of various stolen credit cards, bank cards, personal property and drugs suspected to be cannabis.
As a result of the investigation, Adam MELANSON, 42-years-of-age, from Riverview, New Brunswick, who also had two outstanding arrest warrants for robbery out of New Brunswick was charged with:
- Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Possession property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Dangerous operation
- Drive motor vehicle – perform stunt – excessive speed
- Operation while impaired – alcohol
- Operation while impaired – blood drug concentration
- Flight peace officer
- Driver fail to surrender licence
- Drive vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available
- Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court – four counts
The accused was held for Bail Court, then remanded back into custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on February 25, 2026, in North Bay.