Halifax Regional RCMP makes 6 arrests for impaired driving over 24-hour period

An RCMP epaulette is seen in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

The RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrested six people for impaired driving over a 24-hour period, according to a news release Wednesday.

The arrests were made in Lower Sackville, North Preston, Harrington Cove and Dartmouth over the weekend.

On Saturday around 7:50 a.m., officers responded to a report of a man allegedly causing property damage on MacDonald Cove Road in Harrington Cove.

They reportedly learned he had driven his truck there and was burning items that didn’t belong to him. Police say he was arrested for mischief and failed a roadside breath sample.

Stephen James Mannette, 47, of Charlos Cove, is being charged with:

• impaired driving
• impaired driving over 80 mg%
• three counts of assault
• mischief
• arson

He appeared in Dartmouth provincial court on Monday and was released on conditions pending a future court appearance.

At 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, officers responded to an impaired driving complaint on Walker Avenue in Lower Sackville. The police allegedly noticed signs of impairment, and the 50-year-old driver from Lower Sackville was arrested after he failed a breath sample.

He was released pending a future court appearance.

Then, at 9:55 p.m., an officer was on a proactive patrol when they noticed an off-highway vehicle on the roadway without a licence plate. The officer reportedly noticed signs of impairment from the driver, who then failed a breath sample.

The 35-year-old man from Upper Sackville was released pending a future court appearance.

Later in the night at 11:30 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop during a proactive patrol in Dartmouth on Windmill Road near Ralston Avenue.

The officer allegedly observed signs of impairment and the 31-year-old driver from Halifax gave a breath sample that resulted in a “warn.” He was issued a seven-day driving suspension.

In the early hours of Sunday around 12:50 a.m., an officer on a proactive patrol on Amos Walter Drive in North Preston reportedly found a man asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle.

When the driver exited, he allegedly stumbled into a ditch and was “unable to provide a suitable sample,” according to the RCMP.

The 34-year-old North Preston man faces charges of refusal and was released pending a future court appearance.

Then, at roughly 1:20 a.m., officers responded to a report of a possible impaired driver travelling North on Highway 102 from Lower Sackville. The vehicle was reportedly found on the highway in Fall River, travelling below the speed limit and failing to maintain its lane.

Officers conducted a traffic stop and reported signs of impairment. The driver gave a breath sample that resulted in a failure.

“The driver, a 33-year-old woman from Hardwood Lands, was arrested for impaired driving and on an outstanding warrant for impaired driving,” reads the release.

She was released pending a future court appearance.

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