ORILLIA OPP
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The Orillia detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has arrested and charged a driver with impaired operation and a slew of other charges after an eventful evening in Ramara Township.
On February 11, 2021, at approximately 1:30 a.m., officers from the Orillia OPP were notified of a vehicle on fire in the ditch on Concession Road D-E. Upon arrival, officers found a fully engulfed pickup truck with no licence plates. Ramara Fire Services attended to the vehicle, extinguished the fire and no one was located in or around the collision.
The driver eventually returned to the scene and officers were given cause to begin an impaired driving investigation. The driver was subsequently arrested and as the investigation progressed, a loader was located on its side in the ditch a short distance away. It was determined that the driver had stolen the loader from a nearby quarry, in order to attempt to pull his truck out of the ditch.
As a result, Jason Paugh, age 21, of Ramara, has been charged with:
- Operation while impaired - alcohol
- Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle
- Break, enter a place - with intent to commit an indictable offence
- Dangerous operation
- Operate motor vehicle without insurance
- Fail to remain and several additional Highway Traffic Act violations
The accused was released on a Form 10 Undertaking and is set to appear on March 30, 2021, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Orillia.
The Orillia OPP would like to thank everyone who share the responsibility of keeping our roads, trails and waterways safe by reporting impaired drivers. We are committed to serving our province, including the townships of Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Severn and the City of Orillia, by protecting its citizens, upholding the law and preserving public safety.
If you have any information about crime in our community please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or report minor occurrences online by visiting www.opp.ca/reporting. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.
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