L&A OPP charge five impaired drivers over six days
Over the past week, officers of the Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged five people for impaired driving.
The first incident took place just before 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Jun. 13, 2023, when officers of the L&A County Detachment responded to a complaint of a driver “acting odd and talking to herself on Bath Road in Loyalist Township,” according to a media release. Officers located the vehicle and determined that the lone driver was showing signs of impairment. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of the investigation, Ashley Vanhaarlem, age 37 of Prince Edward County, is facing the following charges:
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
- Possession of a schedule I substance – cocaine
- Having care or control of a motor vehicle with cannabis readily available
The following day, Wednesday, Jun. 14, 2023, at 12:30 a.m., officers responded to a complaint of an erratic driver, possibly impaired, on Hwy 401 in Tyendinaga Township. According to the release, police located the vehicle and determined that the lone driver was showing signs of impairment. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of the investigation, L&A County OPP have charged Zoran Gulyas, age 26 of Toronto, with:
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
- Failure or refusal to comply with a demand
- Possession of a schedule I substance – methamphetamine
- Breach of recognizance
- Driving a motor vehicle with no licence
- Driving a motor vehicle without insurance
Just before 10 p.m. on Friday, Jun. 16, 2023, OPP officers responded to another traffic complaint of a vehicle that ran a red light on County Road 6 in Loyalist Township. Officers located the vehicle and determined that the lone driver was showing signs of impairment, OPP stated. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported for further testing.
As a result of the investigation, 35-year-old Christine Whaling of Amhertview was charged with:
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit
- Failure to surrender insurance card
- Failure to surrender permit for motor vehicle
- Driver fails to surrender licence
On Saturday, Jun. 17, 2023, just after 3 a.m., L&A OPP officers located a vehicle travelling at 168 km/hr in a 100 km/hr zone on Highway 401 westbound from exit/entrance 579. According to the release, officers determined that the lone driver was showing signs of impairment. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of the investigation, L&A County OPP has charged Hayden Arnold, age 23 of Brantford, with:
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit
- Stunt driving (driving at excessive speed)
Just after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jun. 18, 2023, officers located a vehicle at a closed gas station in Odessa. Officers determined that the lone driver was showing signs of impairment, according to the release. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the detachment for further testing.
As a result of the investigation, Jacob Riley-Janzen, age 27 of Loyalist Township, has been charged with:
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
- Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit
Each accused except Gulyas was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee at a later date. Gulyas was held for a bail hearing and remanded into custody. All of the accused drivers had their licences suspended for 90 days, and vehicles impounded for seven days.