(NORTHUMBERLAND, ON) – The Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) dealt with 208 incidents this past week, here are some examples:
Mar 12:
– Police received a complaint of a tractor trailer with an insecure load travelling westbound on Hwy 401 through Northumberland County. The caller reported a flatbed trailer carrying large cylinders, one of which was moving back and forth. Officers located the westbound truck in the Port Hope area resulting in the driver, a 61 yr old Laval, Quebec man, being charged with Insecure load – commercial motor vehicle contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
– An out of province family member reported his 64 yr old brother missing since last summer. Officers investigated the incident and determined that the Campbellford man had died while in hospital care last year. Notification was made to the family.
– Police responded to a report of gas leaking from a grey Toyota Tundra pickup truck parked in a lot on Pond St in Hastings at 11:30pm. Trent Hills Fire Department attended the scene due to the spilled fuel and noticed two holes had recently been drilled into the gas tank. Investigation ongoing.*
Mar 13:
– Police initiated an investigation at the Warkworth Institution after a 23 yr old inmate was found to be in possession of a cell phone. Cell phones are considered to be contraband within an institution as it could jeopardize the security of a penitentiary or the safety of persons when that item is possessed without prior authorization. The investigation is ongoing.
– Police responded to a 911 call from a Brighton home that was the result of a 3 yr old child playing with an old cell phone. Police would like to remind the public that deactivated cell phones still have the ability to dial the emergency number making them an inappropriate toy for children.
– A 58 yr old Port Hope driver was stopped and charged when she was observed to be using her cell phone while travelling on Hwy 401 in Hamilton Twp. Northumberland OPP would like to remind the public that it is the responsibility of every driver to devote all of their attention to driving. The set fine for ‘Drive motor vehicle on a highway while using a hand-held wireless communication device’ is $490 along with 3 demerit points. Motorists charged with that offence who contest the charges can be fined up to $1000 and 3 demerit points on conviction. The province wide Distracted Driving Campaign continues until March 18, 2018.
Mar 14:
– Shortly after midnight police responded to a report of a green Toyota Camry in the ditch on Bayshore Rd (Presqu’ile Provincial Park) in Brighton. Officers located the car which ended up in a wooded area off of the roadway. The driver, who showed signs of impairment, was arrested and taken to the Brighton detachment for further tests. As a result of these tests, George HARRIS age 30 of Trenton, Ontario is charged with Impaired Care & Control of a motor vehicle and Care & Control of a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol content exceeded 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. He was released and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on April 18, 2018.
– At approximately 6:10am three separate motorists reported striking a hydro pole lying across the eastbound lanes of Hwy 401 in the Colborne area. No one was injured but the drivers reported their tires and rims damaged. Police are investigating the possibility that a snow plow struck the pole causing it to roll across the highway. MTO attended and removed the pole from the highway. Investigation ongoing.
– A resident on County Rd 8 in Seymour Twp reported the theft of his mailbox (including the post) from the end of his driveway sometime in the early morning hours yesterday.*
Mar 15:
– A 19 yr old driver reported striking a snow drift while travelling on Telephone Rd near Cedardale Rd in Brighton at 12:30am causing her to lose control and slide into a ditch. The local woman was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. No charges resulted and damages are estimated to be in excess of $2,000.
– A Brighton senior reported that two males wearing hooded sweatshirts let the air out of his car’s tires this past Friday night. The suspects stole the valves and only damaged his car which was parked in a lot on Prince Edward St. along with several other vehicles which were not touched.*
– At approximately 7:00pm an officer had a vehicle pulled over for a traffic offence on eastbound Hwy 401 in the Brighton area. Another officer pulled over to assist that officer and noticed a vehicle approaching them in the right lane. Despite the presence of the cruisers and their emergency lights, the black Honda SUV continued passed the officers failing to move over into the next lane which was clear of any traffic. The 39 yr old driver from Ottawa was charged with Fail to move into another lane for emergency vehicle or tow truck – if safe to do so, contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
– Police responded to a traffic complaint on Hwy 401 eastbound in the Port Hope area when a motorist observed a woman holding a baby in the back seat of a blue Honda Civic. Officers located the vehicle and noted the baby properly secured in a child car seat. The female was advised of the complaint and cautioned.
*Northumberland OPP is asking for the public’s assistance with these ongoing investigations and would ask that anyone with information on these crimes call their nearest OPP detachment. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Peterborough/Northumberland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000 and not have to appear in court.
Northumberland OPP officers investigated four accidental 911 calls, 15 motor vehicle collisions, 43 traffic related complaints and conducted 17 RIDE programs during this time period.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
