(RED LAKE, ON) – On August, 21, 2016 at approximately 1:20 pm, officers from the Red Lake Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a report of an Impaired Driver within the Municipality of Red Lake. Police located the vehicle and signalled for the driver to pull over. Upon speaking with the driver, the officer observed signs that the driver was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and returned to the detachment for further tests. As a result, Raymond Strang, 56, of Pikangikum is charged with Impaired Driving and Drive with Over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood contrary to Section 253(1) (a) and (b) of the Criminal Code as well as Drive while Disqualified contrary to Section 259(4) of the Criminal Code. He was released to appear in Red Lake Court on September 29, 2016.
On August 27, 2016, officers were on Marine Patrol on Red Lake within the Municipality. They located a vessel and approached it to determine if the operator was in compliance with the regulations of the Canada Shipping Act. During this time officers detected alcohol on the breath of the operator and made a demand to provide a breath sample into an approved screening device. The operator refused to comply with the demand and was arrested for the offence of Fail or Refuse to Provide a Sample. While officers secured the other boat, the male jumped from the boat into the water in an attempt to escape. Officers entered the water and pulled him back to the boat. As a result of the investigation, Jonathan Miller-Williams, 50, of Anmore, British Columbia is charged with Fail or Refuse to Provide Sample contrary to Section 254(5) of the Criminal Code and Resist Peace Officer contrary to Section 129(a) of the Criminal Code. He was released by way of a Promise to Appear in Red Lake Court on September 29, 2016
On August 28, 2016 at approximately 4 pm, officers received a report of a stolen motor vehicle from the parking lot of the Red Lake IGA. The vehicle was located on Discovery Road and stopped by police. Upon exiting the vehicle officers determined the female driver was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested for Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle and returned to detachment for further tests. Pamela Quill, 37, of Keewaywin, Ontario was charged with Theft of Motor Vehicle contrary to Section 333.1(1) of the Criminal Code as well as Impaired Operation and Over 80 contrary to Section 253(1)(a) and (b) of Criminal Code and released by way of a promise to appear in Red Lake court on September 29, 2016.
On September 6, 2016, officers responded to a report of a possible Impaired Driver on a dirt bike in the area of Pine Crescent in Red Lake. Officers attended and located a male matching the description of the suspect and after investigating, arrested the male for Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle. He was returned to detachment for further tests. Vincent Keesic, 28, of Red Lake is charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Over 80 contrary to Section 253(1)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code. He was released by way of a Promise to Appear in Red lake Court on November 24, 2016.
The OPP reminds motorists that operating a vehicle or vessel under the influence of any amount of alcohol is dangerous and jeopardizes your own safety as well as the safety of others. If you are planning to consume alcohol then plan to have a sober person drive you home. The public may report an impaired driver by calling 911 or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
The OPP Auxiliary Unit is looking for people interested in becoming a member of their volunteer unit. An information session will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 7 pm in the boardroom of the Red Lake Detachment.