West Nipissing Ouest – Sturgeon Falls, Verner, St Charles, Field and Area News (WEST NIPISSING, ON) – On April 4, 2022 at 6:06 p.m., members from the Nipissing West Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle on Highway 17, West Nipissing.
The vehicle was occupied by a driver and two other passengers.
The driver was known to be a suspended driver and it was determined that the driver was impaired. The driver was arrested and transported to the Nipissing West OPP Detachment for further testing.
A search of the vehicle located Canadian currency and drugs suspected to be fentanyl and cocaine. The value of the drugs seized is believed to be approximately $12,600.
As a result of the investigation:
The driver, Reginald HEFFERN, 36-years-of-age, from Sudbury, was charged with:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC)
- Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, contrary to section 355(b) of the CC
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs Substance Act (CDSA)
- Trafficking in Schedule I substance – Other Drugs, contrary to section 5(1) of the CDSA
- Driving while under suspension, contrary to section 53(1) of the Highway Traffic Act
- Operate a motor vehicle without insurance, contrary to section 2(1)(a) of the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act
The driver was issued a 90-day Administrative Driver’s Licence Suspension and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
The passengers, being Brianna HANSEN, 28-years-of-age and Samantha STRACHAN, 33-years-of-age, both from Sudbury, each were arrested and charged with:
- Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, contrary to section 355(b) of the CC
- Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine, contrary to section 5(2) of the CDSA
- Trafficking in Schedule I substance – Other Drugs, contrary to section 5(1) of the CDSA
All accused were released on an Undertaking and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on May 5, 2022, in West Nipissing.