Driver who fled from police facing numerous drug possession and drug trafficking charges
Tim Brody - Editor
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have laid several charges against a driver who fled from police during an interaction outside of Dryden on April 15.
OPP shared that on Thursday, April 15, members of the Dryden Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop on Highway 17 in Southworth Township (east of Dryden). During an interaction, police informed that the driver drove off at a high rate of speed.
Police said that in the interest of public safety, they did not pursue the vehicle.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. on Highway 72, police officers located the suspect vehicle and suspect.
Sioux Lookout OPP shared that a full investigation of this incident was undertaken by the Sioux Lookout OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) and Dryden OPP CSCU, with the assistance of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Thunder Bay, OPP Canine and Emergency Response Teams, Sioux Lookout OPP detachment members, Dryden OPP detachment members, and Dryden Police Service.
“As a result of the investigation, the accused has been charged with numerous drug possession and drug trafficking offences, for occurrences between March 21 and April 15, 2021. The OPP seized suspected illicit substances including fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, psilocybin, and cannabis, with an estimated street value of almost $22,000.”
The accused, a 42-year-old Sioux Lookout resident, was arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Flight from Peace Officer, contrary to Criminal Code (CC) Section 320.17,
- Obstruct Peace Officer, contrary to CC Section 129(a),
- Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the purpose of Trafficking, contrary to Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) Section 5(2), x4,
- Possession of a Schedule III Substance, contrary to CDSA Section 4(1)
- Possession of over 30 grams dried cannabis in a Public Place, contrary to Cannabis Act Section 8(1)(a) x2
Ontario Provincial Police ask anyone with information about the trafficking of fentanyl or other illicit drugs to call them at 1-888-310-1122. Should people wish to remain anonymous, they may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or report online through ontariocrimestoppers.ca, where they may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
