ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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Members of the Orillia detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested and charged two impaired drivers recently, which highlights the importance of Impaired Driving Prevention Awareness Week, an annual campaign which runs from March 21 to March 27, 2021, across Canada.
On March 17, 2021, shortly after 10 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner on Front Street, Orillia. The vehicle was stopped in a nearby parking lot and officers spoke with the driver.
An impaired driving investigation was initiated and the driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the OPP detachment for further investigation. It was also learned that the suspect was a prohibited driver and that there were numerous administrative issues with the vehicle.
As a result, Clayton Searle, age 40, of Brock Township, has been charged with:
- Operation while impaired - alcohol
- Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Dangerous operation
- Operation while prohibited
- Numerous Highway Traffic Act violations
The accused was held in custody and is set to appear next on March 25, 2021, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Barrie.
On March 19, 2021, shortly after 9 a.m., a concerned citizen called police to report an erratic driver on Highway 11 northbound near Line 12, Oro-Medonte. A responding officer arrived quickly and located the vehicle on Line 12. The vehicle was stopped and, again, the officer had cause to enter into an impaired driving investigation. The male was subsequently arrested and an OPP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) assisted with the investigation.
As a result, Christian Jensen, age 31, of Oakville, has been charged with:
- Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
The accused was released on a Form 10 Undertaking and is set to appear on May 25, 2021, at the Ontario court of Justice, Orillia.
The OPP remains committed to ensuring Ontario roads are safe from drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired drivers who continue to pose a significant threat on Ontario roads. Impaired driving remains the leading cause of criminal death in Canada. If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi or public transit, or come up with another plan that takes impaired driving out of the picture.
For more information regarding the campaign, please visit the Government of Canada website at https://www.canada.ca/en/
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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