A Barrie driver is facing impaired driving charges stemming from a strange incident that occurred in the Massey area on Sept. 28.
At around 9 p.m. that evening, East Algoma Ontario Provincial Police got a traffic complaint call from vehicle travelling eastbound on Highway 17, east of Thessalon. The driver told police they thought they were being followed by another vehicle.
“The driver was unable to provide their exact location and could only confirm their direction of travel,” OPP said in a news release. “The OPP's Provincial Communications Centre North Bay maintained communication with the driver, which ultimately led to Manitoulin OPP conducting a traffic stop west of the Town of Massey.”
When police spoke with the driver, the odour of “freshly burnt cannabis” was evident while speaking with the driver, OPP said. Police said the driver also showed signs of impairment and paranoid behaviour.
“The driver was arrested and transported to hospital in Espanola for medical assessment,” OPP said. “After being released from the hospital, the individual was taken to the Espanola OPP detachment for further testing.”
The driver, a 26-year-old from Barrie, is charged with a count of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by a drug.
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Espanola on Nov. 17.
The driver was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.