NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE
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A South Simcoe Police Service officer narrowly missed being struck by a vehicle that fled a Festive RIDE spot check in Innisfil during the first week of the campaign.
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, at approximately 11:24 p.m., police stopped a vehicle at a RIDE spot check in the area of Sideroad 20 and the 9th Line in Innisfil. Police detected an odour of burned cannabis coming from the vehicle. As police spoke to the driver, he then accelerated away at high speed almost striking another officer.
Police pursued the fleeing vehicle but lost sight of it in the area of Sideroad 25 and Big Bay Point Road. The vehicle was eventually located without the driver in a nearby parking lot of a residence. The vehicle was transported to South Division where a search warrant was executed. A quantity of suspected cocaine was located. With the assistance of the K9 Unit, a search warrant was then conducted at the address where the vehicle was located. A quantity of suspected crack cocaine was found in the residence.
At this point the investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Constable Jesse McGee at 705-436-2141, 905-775-3311 or Crime Stoppers.
The incident is one of several during the first week of the SSPS Festive RIDE campaign that resulted in arrests for a number of charges including the following for Operation While Impaired - Excess Blood Alcohol. These charges resulted in an immediate roadside licence suspension for 90 days and vehicle impound for seven days.
- 48-year-old Amby Che MacInnis of Utopia following a RIDE stop on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2021 in Innisfil
- 30-year-old Michael Wakefield of Tottenham following a RIDE stop on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 in Bradford
- 44-year-old Michael Dipinto of Innisfil following a RIDE stop on Saturday, Dec, 4, 2021 in Innisfil
- 32-year-old Charles Wood of Barrie following a RIDE stop on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 in Innisfil
During the first week of the Festive RIDE campaign, police stopped 965 vehicles, conducted 32 roadside tests for alcohol and 3 for drugs. There was one 3-day suspension for alcohol and three 3-day suspensions for presence of drug. Police also laid seven charges for Cannabis Readily Available, 2 liquor licence offences and 7 Highway Traffic offences.
Other arrests:
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At a RIDE stop in Innisfil on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, 26-year-old Jaelen Sandiford of Toronto was charged with Possession of Drugs (suspected Ecstasy) and 4 counts of Failure to Comply with Judicial Release
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At a RIDE stop in Bradford on Friday, Dec. 2, 2021, a man was arrested on an outstanding warrant who was wanted by the OPP for break and enter, possession of firearms and possession of property obtained by crime.
Our enhanced Festive RIDE campaign will continue for several weeks. We want to remind drivers that impaired driving is a choice that is easily avoided by planning ahead, having a designated driver, booking a ride-sharing service or staying over instead of getting behind the wheel. Deaths and injuries from impaired driving are 100 percent preventable. Do the right thing. Drive sober or don't drive. Call 911 is you see a suspected impaired driver.
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