More Impaired Drivers

(PEMBROKE, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) 2024 Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign commenced on November 21, 2024, and will continue until January 1, 2025. During the fourth week of the campaign from December 12 to December 18, 2024, officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP conducted 11 RIDE checks throughout the detachment area.

During the RIDE checks drivers were found to be in full compliance with the law and no impaired driving or over 80mg charges were reported as a result of the RIDE campaign.

Despite the compliance at the RIDE checks, UOV OPP officers charged two drivers with impaired driving-related offences during the week.

On December 15, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m., members of the UOV OPP responded to a single vehicle rollover collision on Spring Creek Road at Highway 41 in Bonnechere Valley Township. The driver was taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized.   

As a result of this incident 28-year-old Moawiya BENHMUDA of Mississauga, Ontario has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC) offences:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 31, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. 

On December 16, 2024, at approximately 9:00 p.m., members of the UOV OPP responded after a possible impaired driver was reported in the City of Pembroke. A short time later, police located and stopped the vehicle on MacKay Street in Pembroke. Suspected cocaine and methamphetamines were seized by police. The driver was taken into custody and further testing was conducted by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer at the detachment. Two passengers in the vehicle were also arrested in connection with the drug offences.

As a result of this incident 26-year-old Cassidy CAVERLEY of Deep River, 38-year-old Nigel REIS of Petawawa, and 28-year-old Brooke LAVERDURE-ORR of Collingwood have each been charged with following Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) offences:

• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine – two counts
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – methamphetamine

REIS faces an additional charge under the Criminal Code (CC) of failing to comply with probation.

LAVERDURE-ORR faces additional charges under the CC and Highway Traffic Act (HTA):

• Operation while impaired – drugs
• Failure to comply with release order – two counts
• Resist peace officer
• Driving while under suspension

CAVERLEY and REIS were both released to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 6 and 7, 2025, respectively.

LAVERDURE-ORR was held for a bail hearing and remains in custody until their next appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 19, 2025. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.  

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