Windsor police charge five people with impaired driving over weekend

OPP depict a drink of alcohol and car keys beside handcuffs in this undated file image. Photo: OPP

Windsor police were cracking down on impaired drivers over the weekend.

Officers charged five people with impaired driving-related offences following separate incidents.

On May 2, shortly after 2 a.m., officers responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision in the 9000 block of Riverside Drive East.

The investigation determined the driver had just left a nearby business and drove into a large pillar, causing significant front-end damage and deploying the airbags. Officers say they observed slurred speech and an odour of alcohol on the driver’s breath. He was arrested and transported to headquarters, where he failed a breath test.

A 50-year-old man was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit.

About two hours later, officers were attending an unrelated call at Howard Avenue and Giles Boulevard when a driver approached them to report a collision involving a black pickup truck. The pickup truck drove up to the intersection shortly after, and officers directed the driver to pull into a nearby lot. After taking a statement from the complainant, they approached the pickup truck and found the driver asleep in the back seat.

Upon waking him, police say they detected an odour of alcohol, along with slurred speech and red, glossy eyes. The driver was arrested and taken to headquarters, where he failed a breath test.

A 30-year-old man was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit.

On May 3, at 3 a.m., officers were called to assist the Canada Border Services Agency with an arrest at the Ambassador Bridge. A male driver at the inspection booth showed signs of impairment, including slurred speech and glossy eyes. When asked to get out of his vehicle, he was unsteady on his feet and had to hold onto the vehicle to keep from falling. The driver was taken to Windsor Police headquarters, where he refused to provide a breath sample.

A 43-year-old man was charged with refusal to comply with a demand to provide a breath sample.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m. that morning, officers conducted a traffic stop on Front Road after a vehicle was reported driving erratically and at a high rate of speed. While speaking with the driver, officers detected a strong odour of alcohol on her breath. She later failed a breath test administered at Windsor Police headquarters.

A 41-year-old woman was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and operation of a conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit.

That evening, at 7:30 p.m., officers were called to the Ambassador Bridge to assist border officials with an arrest. A driver entering Canada was directed to secondary inspection, where officers say they observed she was unsteady on her feet, twitching while speaking, mumbling in response to questions, and sweating profusely. The woman was transported to Windsor Police headquarters, where she failed physical coordination tests.

A 28-year-old woman was charged with operation of a conveyance while impaired to any degree by alcohol or drugs.

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please contact Victim Services Windsor Essex County at 519-723-2711 or the Victim Assistance Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 7179.