A 39-year-old Elliot Lake, Ont., man has been charged with drug trafficking, impaired driving and other offences after police found a passed-out driver Oct. 9.
Ontario Provincial Police received the call about the vehicle parked on Westhill Road at 8:30 a.m.
“The complainant reported that a male was passed out in the driver's seat of a silver jeep,” the OPP said in a news release Friday.
“Police attended the location and spoke to the driver. A half-empty bottle of liquor was observed on the passenger seat and the driver exhibited signs of impairment.”
He was arrested and police found a cache of drugs and related items, including a used crack pipe, small baggies, a digital scale, numerous cellphones, two open bottles of liquor, 12 grams of suspected cocaine, 44 suspected Xanax pills and almost 55 grams of suspected crystal meth.
Police also found 30 millilitres of suspected Pyrantel Pamoate, which is used to treat intestinal worms.
“His driver's licence was suspended and the vehicle was towed and impounded,” police said.
He is charged with impaired driving, several trafficking offences and possession of the proceeds of crime more than $5,000.
The accused was scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice Bail Court in Blind River on Oct. 20.
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“Impairment by drugs is a crime under the Criminal Code and drivers are subject to the same penalties as those who are charged with driving while impaired by alcohol,” police said.
“The OPP has highly trained drug recognition experts who are skilled in the detection and investigation of drug-impaired drivers.”
To report a suspected impaired driver, dial 911 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
