A traffic stop in Garden River First Nation has resulted in impaired driving charges against a local man. An officer with the Anishinabek Police Service said they observed a vehicle speeding on Highway 17 just after 4 a.m. on Oct. 12. “The officer safely conducted a traffic stop and after speaking with the driver and locating an open can of beer under the driver seat, formed reasonable suspicion the individual was intoxicated,” the Indigenous police service said in a news release Thursday. Roadside sobriety test administered Police said a standard field sobriety test was administered at the roadside and the driver performed poorly. As a result, a 26-year-old local man has been charged with two impaired driving offences – including operation with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. In addition to the charges, the driver received a 90-day licence suspension and the involved vehicle was impounded for seven days. The accused has since been released on an undertaking with a Nov. 30 court date. Report impaired drivers Anishinabek police used the incident to remind the community of what they can do if they suspect a driver may be impaired. “Road safety is a shared responsibility.” – Anishinabek Police Service “If you suspect someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, call 911 immediately,” police said. Police added that unsafe driving behaviours in the community can also be reported using the service’s online reporting tool or by contacting Crime Stoppers anonymously.
