Manitoba man facing multiple charges after northwestern Ont. traffic stop

An Ontario Provincial Police vehicle is shown driving down a snow covered highway in this undated image. (File photo/Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A routine traffic stop on Highway 17A led to numerous criminal charges for a 19-year-old Manitoba man, including identity theft and possession of stolen credit cards.

Ontario Provincial Police stopped a westbound vehicle just before 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 8 after observing a Highway Traffic Act infraction. What began as a minor violation quickly escalated when the driver was unable to provide ID.

“The driver of the vehicle was unable to produce a driver’s license or any identification and provided a fictitious name and date of birth,” OPP said in a news release.

Officers arrested the man for obstruction. A subsequent search uncovered several credit cards issued in other people’s names that had been reported lost or stolen.

“Two different provincial driver’s licences were also located with photos matching the driver but with two different names,” police said.

Further investigation revealed the man had active warrants for property crimes in Barrie, Ont., and Calgary, Alta. An immigration warrant had also been issued by the Canada Border Services Agency.

The suspect has been charged with impersonation with intent, obstruction of justice and five counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

Provincial offence charges include failure to surrender a driver’s licence and driving with a dirty licence plate.

The accused was held in custody pending a bail court appearance in Kenora.

RELATED STORIES:

• Sault police charge two in January vehicle theft, credit card fraud case
• Sault police lay fraud charges against already incarcerated man
• Police say Sault man went on spending spree with stolen credit card
• Sault woman charged with stealing purse, using stolen credit cards
• Northern Ont. woman charged with credit card theft