Impaired driver had loaded handgun, OPP say

North Bay Ontario Provincial Police stopped a 19-year-old driver in a grey sedan travelling 188km/h in a 100km/h zone on Highway 11 on July 13, 2024. The back of a police vehicle with officers visible in the background. (File photo/Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

A 21-year-old Manitoulin Island man is facing multiple weapons and impaired driving-related charges after Ontario Provincial Police say a traffic stop on Highway 6 led to the seizure of a loaded handgun.

OPP said the incident began at about 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 6 when an officer on patrol in Sheguiandah observed a vehicle fail to yield.

“A traffic stop was initiated, and while speaking with the driver, the officer detected an odour of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle,” OPP said in a news release.

A breath demand was made and the driver registered a “FAIL” on an approved screening device.

The driver was subsequently arrested for impaired operation.

Loaded handgun seized, multiple charges laid

“As the investigation continued, police located and seized a loaded handgun from the vehicle,” OPP said.

The accused faces 13 charges in total.

As a result of the handgun, he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, unauthorized possession of a weapon, two counts of careless storage of a firearm or ammunition and two other firearm-related offences.

For driving-related matters, the motorist was charged with two counts of driving while under suspension, operation of a vehicle while prohibited and failing to yield from a driveway along with three impaired driving offences – including operation with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeding 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood and having a BAC above zero as a novice driver.

In additional to the charges, under provincial law, the man received an immediate 90-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for 45 days.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Gore Bay on Aug. 25.