(HURON EAST, ON) – A driver from Bluewater is now facing criminal charges following a traffic stop that took place in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.
At approximately 3:45 a.m. on January 1, 2019 a Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer on traffic patrol came across a pickup truck that was parked near the intersection of Kippen Road and Centennial Road.
Upon checking out the vehicle the investigating officer noted the driver appeared to be asleep inside the vehicle with the vehicle engine running. The officer was able to wake the male driver up and upon speaking with him it was observed the male had consumed alcohol to the point his ability to drive was deemed impaired.
The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for impaired driving and was transported to the Exeter OPP Detachment for breath tests. He subsequently provided two samples of his breath to a qualified Intoxilizer Technician and both of his samples registered over the legal limit.
While in police custody the male also caused property damage to the prisoner cell.
Thomas HARTMAN, 21 years of age, from Bluewater has been charged with Impaired Driving, Drive Motor Vehicle With Over 80 Milligrams of Alcohol and Mischief to Property. He has since been released from custody with a court date scheduled for February 4, 2019 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. His vehicle was impounded for seven days and his licence has been suspended for an automatic 90 days.