A Mactier woman has been charged after Barrie police say she was found asleep behind the steering wheel of a vehicle in a north-end parking lot and then tried to run from the scene when paramedics arrived, Wednesday evening.
Shortly before 7 p.m., Aug. 16, city police say they received a call from Simcoe County paramedics who had responded to a report of a car running in a Bayfield Street parking lot with a woman "slumped over the steering wheel," according to a news release from Barrie police.
Police say concerned citizens tried to wake her up, but when they couldn’t they called for assistance.
"When paramedics arrived on scene, they were able to arouse the driver, but she ran from the car," the release stated.
When officers arrived and were informed of the situation, they began searching the area for the woman.
A few minutes later, police say the suspect was spotted crossing Bayfield Street. She was arrested just north of Georgian Mall.
A 22-year-old woman from Mactier has been charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and obstructing a peace officer. She was transported to Barrie Police Headquarters on Fairview Road where police say it was confirmed that she was impaired by alcohol.
The accused was additionally charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired (over .80 milligrams) and was later released from custody. She is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie on Aug. 30.
Her vehicle was impounded for seven days and her driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days under the Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension Program.
