(HOWICK, ON) – An impaired driver led police through a swamp and up a tree before he was finally taken into custody on Friday night.
On Friday, February 24, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers responded to the area of Orange Hill Road northwest of Gorrie to patrol for a possible impaired driver that had nearly struck another vehicle. As officers began responding to the call police learned the male driver had ditched his Lincoln sports utility vehicle and had now fled the scene and entered into a nearby swamp. After exiting the swamp the impaired driver then entered into a nearby parked vehicle and was getting ready to leave in the vehicle when he was confronted by the vehicle owner. The male then took off from the vehicle owner on foot and decided to climb up a large tree.
Police arrived on scene and began speaking with the male. After some convincing the male gave himself up and climbed down from the tree. He was promptly placed under arrest and taken into custody. The investigating officer observed the driver to be exhibiting several signs that he had been using a drug and his ability to drive was impaired by a drug.
As a result, the driver was transported to the Wingham OPP Detachment where a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluated the driver and formed the expert opinion the driver was impaired by a drug.
As a result, the driver, Kevin SPITZIG, 39 years of age from South Bruce has been charged with Impaired Operation by Drug, Theft of Motor Vehicle and Trespass by Night. He has since been released from custody with a court date scheduled for March 13, 2017 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. He also received an automatic 90-day driver’s licence suspension.