Within an almost 26-hour period Thunder Bay Police Service officers arrested and charged three motorists who were impaired by drug.
The first incident occurred on Monday, July 13 just before 2 a.m. Police were on patrol in the area of Arthur Street near Marks Street when they observed a vehicle being driven by a suspected suspended driver.
Police conducted a traffic stop and approached the driver. Officers confirmed the driver, a 34-year-old Thunder Bay man, was operating with a suspended licence. During their interaction with the driver, police noticed multiple signs of impairment.
A roadside Standardized Field Sobriety Test was conducted. The results of the SFST led officers to suspect the driver was impaired by drug.
The motorist was arrested and transported to the TBPS headquarters, where a certified Drug Recognition Expert confirmed the driver was impaired by cannabis.
The driver was formally charged with Driving While Impaired by Drug, and Failure to Comply with a Judicial Release.
The second incident occurred on Monday, July 13 after 4:40 p.m.
Police were dispatched to the area of Clarkson Street and Red River Road following reports of a two-vehicle collision. One of the vehicles involved fled the scene after the collision.
Police learned a 36-year-old Thunder Bay man was driving a white SUV near the intersection of Clarkson Street and Red River Road when he rear-ended another vehicle. The driver then fled.
A short time later police located the vehicle involved in the collision in a driveway of a residence in the 200 block of Poplar Avenue. Police also located the suspected driver there.
When speaking with the driver officers noticed signs of impairment, and located paraphernalia consistent with abusing crack cocaine in the man’s vehicle. A roadside SFST was conducted, the results of which led officers to suspect the driver was impaired by drug.
The male was arrested and transported to the TBPS headquarters where a Drug Recognition Expert confirmed he was impaired by a central nervous system stimulant. He was formally charged with Driving While Impaired by Drug.
The third incident occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14.
At that time TBPS officers were in the 100 block of Blucher Avenue when they observed a motor vehicle previously reported as missing.
A traffic stop was conducted, and officers approaching the 21-year-old female driver noticed signs of impairment. Officers also noticed paraphernalia consistent with abusing crack cocaine.
A roadside SFST was conducted, the results of which led police to suspect the driver was impaired by drug.
The driver was transported to the TBPS headquarters where a Drug Recognition Expert confirmed her to be impaired by drug.
She was formally charged with Driving While Impaired by Drug.
All three accused will face the charges against them during future court appearances.
The Thunder Bay Police Service would like to remind the public that officers are trained to detect a driver’s impairment by drugs, alcohol or a combination of both. These findings can be confirmed through further tests conducted by a certified Drug Recognition Expert.
If you are consuming alcohol or drugs, please find a safe ride home or do not travel until you are completely sober.
If you see a suspected impaired driver on the roadway, please call 911.