OPP INVESTIGATE SCHOOL BUS COLLISION
On December 18, 2018 at approximately 8:28 a.m., members of the Renfrew Detachment and the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a two vehicle collision on Cobden Road, North of Barr Line in the Township of Admaston Bromley.
Investigation revealed that an unloaded school bus travelling eastbound on Cobden Road and a passenger car travelling westbound on Cobden Road were involved in a head on collision. The 72-year-old male school bus driver from Douglas, was taken to hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. The 17-year-old male driver of the passenger car from Eganville, was taken to hospital by ambulance and later air lifted by ORNG Air to hospital with serious injuries.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY ON HASTINGS STREET SOUTH
During the morning of December 31, 2018, officers of the Bancroft Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to an attempted robbery on Hastings Street South in the Town of Bancroft.
Officers arrived on scene and spoke with an 18-year-old female victim who advised that she was attacked by an unknown suspect while exiting her vehicle.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his 50’s, partial beard (short), dressed all in black and wearing a hood.
Bancroft officers, alongside OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) members, OPP Canine Unit, and OPP Forensic Identification Unit attended to search for the suspect and assist with the investigation.
Emergency Medical Services transported the female to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The investigation is currently ongoing and video surveillance is being reviewed at the location of the assault.
Anyone with information about this attempted robbery is asked to please contact the Bancroft OPP at 1-888-310-1122, report it to the OPP online at http://www.opp.ca/index.php?id=132, by cellphone (*677 (*OPP)) or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) at https://www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm if you wish to remain anonymous.
More information will be provided once available.
WINTER VACATION AND CRIME PREVENTION
With the winter season upon us many people will be planning sunny vacations to the south during the winter months. It is important to take a few moments to think about crime prevention for your home and property before you go. The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind residents to consider the following crime prevention tips while away from their residence:
- Do not announce your trip/vacation plans on social media. Advertising your absence could be an invitation to would-be thieves.
- Arrange for someone to maintain your home so it appears occupied – this includes shovelling the walkways and driveway, picking up mail, flyers and newspapers and placing garbage and recycling containers at the curb for normal pickup.
- Ask trusted neighbours to keep an eye on your residence while you are away and leave your vacation address and phone numbers with them so you can be reached in an emergency.
- Use timers for lights, television or radios.
- Make sure all the locks on the windows and doors function properly and use them.
- Leave the shades and blinds on doors and windows in a position that you normally would have them.
- Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway so it will appear as if someone is home
- Make sure smoke and burglary alarms are functioning properly and armed.
- Consider taking valuables to a safety deposit box.
Your vacation should be an enjoyable, relaxing experience. Following these safety tips will reduce the chance of being victimized and allow travellers to return home to a safe and secure residence.
OPP COMMITED TO MAKE ROADS SAFER WITH NEW IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS
Part 2 of Bill C-46 came into effect December 18, 2018, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will begin to exercise new authority for investigating impaired drivers on Ontario roads.
Police officers will now be able to demand a roadside breath sample from any lawfully stopped driver to determine whether a person has alcohol in their body without first having to suspect the motorist has been drinking. Until now, officers had to have a reasonable suspicion that a driver had alcohol in their body before demanding a sample.
Drivers need to be aware that it is mandatory for them to comply with this demand and that those who do not can be charged with failing or refusing to provide a breath sample.
Under the new legislation, drivers impaired by alcohol will also face higher mandatory minimum fines and some higher maximum penalties. (See penalties below).
“The new mandatory alcohol screening serves as an important deterrent to drivers who are impaired by alcohol, including those who believe they can avoid detection by police. So far this year, alcohol and/or drugs have been a factor in the deaths of 41 people on OPP-patrolled roads. Every person who uses our roads has the right to be safe. The OPP fully supports this and any other legislation that enhances our ability to reduce the number of preventable deaths attributed to this deadly driving behaviour,” said Interim Commissioner Gary Couture.
The OPP has laid more than 7,300 impaired driving charges across the province between January 1 and mid-November, 2018.
If you suspect that a person is driving or about to drive impaired by alcohol or drugs, you should call 9-1-1 to report them to police.
Penalties for impaired driving as of December 18, 2018
– Alcohol-impaired driving that does not cause bodily harm or death – mandatory minimum penalties:
– First offence + blood alcohol content (BAC) of 80-119 mg: mandatory minimum $1,000 fine
– First offence + BAC of 120-159 mg: mandatory minimum $1,500 fine
– First offence + BAC of 160 mg or more: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
– First offence of refusal to be tested: mandatory minimum $2,000 fine
– Second offence: mandatory minimum 30 days imprisonment
– Third and subsequent offences: mandatory minimum 120 days imprisonment