Gun, cocaine and impaired charges follow erratic drive on Hwy 12, Midland

The OPP logo is shown in front of a cruiser with lights on in this file image. Tue., May 19, 2026. PHOTO: OPP

Officers watched as a car careened across lanes of Highway 12 and onto the shoulder just after 1 a.m. Saturday.

Police from the Southern Georgian Bay Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) pulled over the car on William Street near Pillsbury Drive in Midland.

Police say the driver showed signs of being impaired and saw that drugs were present in the car.

As they searched the vehicle, they seized 62 grams of cocaine, Canadian currency, a loaded and restricted gun, and drug paraphernalia.

The driver was arrested at the scene and brought in for further testing.

A 56-year-old Midland man was charged with:

• Operation while impaired
• Obstruct peace officer
• Possession of Schedule I Substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm
• Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a firearm
• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm
• Two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
• Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm
• Possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose

The accused was held for a bail hearing and appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Barrie later that day.