Man charged with impaired driving, drug trafficking charges

June 19, 2025

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A 45-year-old man faces charges after being found unconscious in the driver's seat of a vehicle that was involved in a collision, which subsequently led to the seizure of suspected crack cocaine.


Thunder Bay Police Service Primary Response officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of River Street shortly after 4 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, after receiving a report of a motor vehicle collision.


One vehicle had collided with another in a drive-through lane, and the vehicle had been driven away prior to police arrival.


Responding officers located the offending vehicle nearby, where they found the suspect unconscious in the driver's seat. The investigation and arrest also resulted in the seizure of a quantity of cash and suspected crack cocaine.


Officers were able to wake the driver and observed signs of impairment. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.


Stephen Bruce APPEL, 45, is charged with Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Failure to Stop After an Accident, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking, and Possession of Proceeds of Crime under $5,000.


The accused appeared in court on Thursday and has been released with a future appearance date.

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Thunder Bay Police Service swears in chaplain

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The Thunder Bay Police Service officially welcomed its chaplain on Wednesday. Chaplain Deobrah Kraft was officially sworn in and took her formal oath during a ceremony at the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters before Justice of the Peace Jerry Woods, with police leadership including Chief Darcy Fleury and Deputy Chiefs Ryan Hughes and Jeremy Pearson, along with Thunder Bay Police Service Board members Ken Boshcoff and Kasey Etreni, and members of her family in attendance. Chaplain Kraft has been the Anglican Archdeacon of the Thunder Bay-North Shore Deanery since 2011, and was the priest at St. Paul's Anglican Church from 2005 to 2023. She led the annual National Police and Peace Officers Memorial Day service in Thunder Bay for many years and began working with the Thunder Bay Police Service in 2020. "The chaplain is a unique and vital part of our police family," Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury said. "They are a source of calm, a trusted confidant, and a steady presence in times of both personal and professional crisis." Chaplain Kraft provides spiritual guidance in a non-denominational manner, whether it being offering support after critical incidents, checking in with members, or sharing inspiring messages. She holds multiple degrees, including an MBA from the University of Toronto and an Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology from Thorneloe University.
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