NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Officers of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment were kept busy with numerous calls for service, which included 11 vehicle crashes and two impaired driving investigations over the weekend.
Officers responded to a report of a vehicle into the trees off of Wood Road at the intersection of McMann Sideroad in Tay Township near 6:21 a.m. Aug. 27, 2023. Investigators were unable to locate any occupants near the vehicle, which had rolled numerous times as it entered the ditch and came to rest in the nearby trees. Investigation is continuing with a Barrie resident who apparently owns what is left of the vehicle and did not wish to speak with the police at the time as to what may have caused the crash.
A 911 call to the OPP Communication Centre near 7:15 a.m. Aug. 26, 2023, caused officers to attend an area near the intersection of Fuller Avenue and Robert Street East for a two-vehicle crash including a utility pole at that location. Scene investigation led officers to believe a grey car heading northbound on Fuller Avenue went off the road striking a utility pole and rolled, striking a red vehicle turning onto Robert Street East from Fuller Avenue. Officers spoke with the operator of the grey car and entered into a drinking and driving investigation, which resulted in a 17-year-old of north Simcoe to be charged with the following offences as a young person as defined by the Youth Criminal Justice Act:
- Operation while impaired — alcohol
- Operation while impaired — blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus
- Dangerous operation
- Take motor vehicle without consent
And further:
- Novice driver — BAC above zero contrary to the Highway Traffic Act
- Driver fail to surrender licence contrary to the Highway Traffic Act
- Fail to surrender insurance card contrary to the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act
- Person under 19 years consuming liquor contrary to the Liquor Licence and Control Act
The accused was released from custody and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Sept. 6, 2023. The accused also faces a 90-day driver's licence suspension as per the Ministry of Transportation guidelines. As well the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days. Both drivers were treated by emergency services for minor injuries at the scene.
Near 7:35 a.m. Aug. 24, 2023, a community member reported to the OPP Communication Centre a possible impaired driver in the area of the retail stores on Simcoe County Road 93, Midland. The suspect vehicle was located in the Mountain View Mall parking lot and the lone driver fled from the officer on foot through a store, then headed into the bush, west of the mall. Approximately 8:24 a.m. Aug. 24, 2023, the driver was located by police at a Glen Eagles, Midland, residence and was arrested. An investigation was commenced resulting in Michael Gregory Marchildon, 26 years, of Midland being charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
- Operation while impaired — alcohol and drugs
- Take motor vehicle without consent
And further:
- Driving while under suspension contrary to the Highway Traffic Act
The accused was released from custody and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Sept. 7, 2023. The accused also faces a 90-day driver's licence suspension as per the Ministry of of Transportation guidelines. As well the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days.
OPP officers on patrol also participated in 10 RIDE check stop programs set up in various locations in the detachment area over the weekend, checking 100 vehicles and drivers checking for signs of impaired driving.
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