OPP called off a police chase, then arrested the driver sitting in his vehicle in his own driveway Sunday.
It all started just before midnight on September 13, when Nipissing West officers received several traffic complaints about a possible impaired driver travelling westbound on Highway 17, west of North Bay.
A short time later, officers saw the vehicle on Highway 17 and tried to stop it just east of Sturgeon Falls. The driver failed to stop and officers then tried to perform a tandem stop but the vehicle swerved onto the shoulder and fled.
Officers ended the pursuit.
Shortly thereafter, they found the driver sitting in the vehicle, parked on his property, in Cache Bay where he was arrested. Drugs suspected to be methamphetamine and Percocet were seized.
Investigation revealed the driver was under the influence of a drug.
Further testing by a Drug Recognition Expert was completed and as a result of this evaluation, the driver Robin Lachance, 49, from Cache Bay, was charged with:
- Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs
- Flight from a peace officer
- Two counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance - methamphetamine
- Possession of a Schedule 1 substance - opioid
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
Lachance was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on November 5, in Sturgeon Falls.
He was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
This charge marks the 43rd driver charged under Criminal Impaired Driving Laws in the Nipissing West Detachment area in 2020.
