(PEMBROKE, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) 2024 Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign commenced on November 21, 2024, and will continue until January 1, 2025. During the first week of the campaign from November 21-27, 2024, officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the OPP conducted 34 RIDE checks throughout the detachment area.
A 26-year-old resident of Eganville is facing charges after encountering a RIDE check in the City on Pembroke at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 24, 2024. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of this incident Jimmy WEMIGWANS has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC) offences:
· Operation while impaired – alcohol
· Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 17, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
In addition to the Festive RIDE program results, officers charged a Laurentian Valley resident after a traffic stop was initiated at approximately 11:45 p.m. on November 21, 2024, on River Road in Pembroke. As part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized, and the driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of this incident 26-year-old Brodie WITTIG has been charged with the following CC and Highway Traffic Act (HTA) offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
- Driver without proper rear light – motor vehicle
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 23, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
On November 23, 2024, at approximately 1:45 a.m. members of the UOV OPP responded to a report of a possible impaired driver in the Town of Petawawa. Officers located the vehicle, but it failed to stop and officers did not pursue for public safety reasons. A short time later the vehicle and driver were located parked on Portage Road in Petawawa. The driver was taken into custody and transport to the detachment for testing. Cannabis and alcohol were found in the vehicle and seized by police during this investigation.
As a result of this investigation 31-year-old Ahmad Arosto ASSADI of Ottawa has been charged with the following CC, Cannabis Control Act (CCA) and Liquor Licence and Control Act (LLCA) offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
- Flight from peace officer
- Have care or control of vehicle with cannabis readily available
- Have care or control of a motor vehicle with liquor readily available
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 17, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
On November 23, 2024, at approximately 2:45 p.m. an off-duty member of the UOV OPP reported a possible impaired driver in the Town of Petawawa. Officers located the vehicle in Petawawa and as part of the investigation a Roadside Screening Device was utilized. The driver was transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of this incident 40-year-old Lindsay WELLING of Petawawa has been charged with the following CC offences:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration 80mg plus
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on December 23, 2024. The accused also had their driver’s licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.