PARRY SOUND – No charges were laid against a man who was reportedly drinking alcohol on a bench behind a business on Pine Drive.
On September 5 at 1 p.m. several West Parry Sound OPP officers responded to the call and spoke to the suspect regarding the allegation. The man appeared to be sober, but admitted to having consumed alcohol on the bench and apologized. A consensual search of the man’s backpack found two cans of beer. Police exercised discretion and warned the man against consuming alcohol in places other than a licensed facility. No charges were laid.
This was one of 176 calls for service the West Parry Sound OPP responded to between September 5 and 11. Others included six alarm calls, seven thefts, 10 motor vehicle collisions, six charges under the liquor license act, and six calls to 911.
Peeping Tom
A McKellar Township resident contacted police at 9:41 a.m. on September 6 regarding a suspicious person they had seen on their porch, peering into the kitchen the night before. At 9:45 p.m. on September 5, the caller’s dog had alerted them to the presence of the “peeping Tom.” The complainant went outside to confront the man, but he could not be found.
West Parry Sound OPP community services officer Charles Ostrom encourages the public to call 911 if their personal safety is in jeopardy and be cautious when confronting suspicious persons.
From roadway, to ditch, to tree
At 2:47 p.m. on September 7, police responded to a single motor vehicle collision on Healey Lake Road in Archipelago Township. A 2008 Kia 5SX had been travelling westbound, when it left the roadway, drove along the ditch for approximately 27 meters before hitting a tree head-on. The car was towed from the scene and an elderly driver was transported to the West Parry Sound Health Centre with minor injuries and faces careless driving charges.
Drugs, booze and a warning
Two underage teens were let go with a warning after a police officer caught them with beer and marijuana. On September 7 at 11:16 p.m. the patrolling officer heard a Parry Sound resident yelling at two teens on the complainant’s property.
The youths, ages 15 and 16, had jumped a fence into another yard, in an attempt to flee and were stopped by the officer nearby. The teens claimed to have mistaken one of the residences for a friend’s and after being questioned, handed over cans of beer, which were concealed in their pants’ pockets. The beer was seized and disposed of.
One of the teens also surrendered a quantity of what was suspected to be marijuana in a plastic bag from a pocket.
Officer discretion was exercised and the two were warned about the possible charges of trespass by night, a criminal code offense; possession of drugs, controlled drugs and substances act offense; and an offense regarding person under 19 having liquor, contrary to the liquor license act.
The teens were sent on their way and the marijuana seized for destruction.
Roadside snooze
An officer travelling southbound on Highway 69 at 3:34 a.m. on September 8 saw a red 2010 Dodge Ram stopped on the southbound shoulder with its hazard lights flashing and the engine running. The officer stopped to ensure the safety of the driver and offer assistance, if needed.
The lone occupant of the truck was found slumped forward in the driver’s seat and unresponsive. The man was roused by the officer and identified with a valid photo driver’s licence. The officer smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and demanded for a roadside breath sample.
The driver blew an ‘F’ indicating his alcohol level was over the legal limit. An arrest was made and the driver was transferred to the West Parry Sound OPP Detachment where he provided breath samples nearly double the legal limit.
The vehicle was impounded for seven days and the driver released on a promise to appear in court for care or control. Persons charged with alcohol-related criminal code offenses are subject to a 90-day administrative drivers licence suspension, effective the date of the offense.
Winter tire theft
Police continue to investigate the theft of four, 17-inch winter tires on rims stolen out of a trailer on Blackwater Lake Road in McKellar Township. On September 9 at 5:04 p.m. OPP responded to the break and enter that is believed to have occurred sometime between 11 a.m. September 6 and 3 p.m. September 9. Using bolt cutters, the unknown person(s) entered the locked trailer and stole the tires. Police continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to contact constable Zenobie Loach at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Ransacked residence
At 3:13 p.m. police were called to a break and enter at a Bay Street residence that occurred about 95 minutes earlier. Unknown suspect(s) entered through an insecure bedroom window and ransacked the vacant premises. Stolen property includes: an Acer laptop computer, a PS3 gaming system, a DVD player, a jar containing a small quantity of coins and a variety of prescription medication. Neighbours were canvassed by OPP and the investigation continues. Anyone with information that may help solve this crime are asked to call constable Barb Nicksy at 1-888-310-1122 or call Crime stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Back seat dog distracts driver
On September 11 at 3:46 p.m. police were called to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Bowes and Forest Streets.
An investigation revealed that a westbound 2010 Jeep Rangler was stopped on Bowes Street waiting for a vehicle ahead to make a left turn on to Forest Street when a 2004 Ford Escape, also heading southbound on Bowes Street, rear-ended the Jeep.
The driver of the Ford said her dog had distracted her - when she looked back at her dog in the back seat, she struck the stopped Jeep.
No one, including the dog, was injured and no alcohol was involved. A Rosseau woman was charged with careless driving.