Traffic stop in Picton leads to trafficking charges for three Perth residents

A call to police from a citizen concerned the driver of a vehicle in central Picton might impaired resulted in the arrest of all three people in that vehicle – and a list of serious charges against them.

According to the Prince Edward County (PEC) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), that is precisely what occurred on Sunday, May 7, 2023, when their officers received the report of a potentially impaired driver, who was leaving an address on Bridge Street in Picton at approximately 1:30 p.m. Responding officers located the vehicle nearby on Paul Street and conducted a traffic stop. The ensuing investigation led to the driver being arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, and then transported to the detachment for further testing.

As the investigation continued, officers located quantities of three substances, suspected to be fentanyl, cocaine, and hydromorphone. Police also found a quantity of Canadian currency, cellphones, and “other assorted drug paraphernalia,” the PEC OPP said in a press release on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. This resulted in the arrest of the two passengers in the vehicle.

The OPP East Region Community Street Crime Unit attended to assist the PEC officers, leading to all three individuals being charged.

The driver of the vehicle, Michael Lewis, 43, of Perth was charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (hyrdromorphone)
• Operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
• Operation of a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit

Timothy Garrett, 38, of Perth was charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (hyrdromorphone)

Kevin Sincennes, 43, of Perth was charged with:

• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking (hyrdromorphone)
• Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000

All three individuals were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Picton in June 2023, according to the OPP.

“The OPP would like to thank the public for their assistance in reporting impaired drivers. People should not hesitate to contact police should they believe someone to be impaired,” the PEC OPP said.