Officers from the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were kept busy with traffic investigations during the past week on roadways in North Simcoe. With students back in school, drivers had extra vehicular traffic to contend with including school buses and pedestrian traffic and community safety zones.
Officers focused their patrol time to school zone areas as well in the outlying areas such as Vasey Road, Old Fort Road, Simcoe County Roads 6, 27 and 93 which resulted in numerous instances of enforcement action being taken primarily for speeding offences which is one of the “Big Four” contributing factors of serious crashes along with seat belt usage, distracted driving and impaired driving.
On September 8, 2025 at 7:11 a.m. a 31 year old Elmvale male driver was stopped on Vasey Road, Tay Township and charged for stunt driving after being clocked at 123 km/hr in an 60 km/hr zone resulting in a vehicle impound / 30 day drivers licence suspension and a date in Provincial court. Side note, the driver also faces a charge under the Cannabis Control Act.
Twelve crashes were investigated on area roadways and officers responded to 25 traffic complaints initiated by the public and called into the OPP Communication Centre for such things as possible impaired drivers, speeders and in one incidence a report of a passenger sitting atop the roof of the car heading up Cedar Point Road in Tiny Township. 14 R.I.D.E. (reduce impaired driving everywhere) programs were setup throughout the Detachment area at all hours of the day/night checking over 200 drivers for signs of impairment in an effort to improve road safety.
IMPAIRED DRIVING INCIDENTS
1) Officers were dispatched at 11:55 p.m. September 10, 2025 to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in a restricted parking spot at a William Street, Midland housing complex. Officers found two occupants passed out in the vehicle and upon awaking and speaking with the driver, made an arrest and entered into an impaired by drug investigation. Further investigation at detachment with the assistance of an OPP Drug Recognition (DRE) officer has resulted in the following criminal charges for 35 year old Mitchell Alan ELLERY of Merrickville.
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs
- Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court
And further with the Provincial Offence of
- Fail to surrender accessible parking permit
The accused was held for a bail hearing and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a future date. The accused was also served a 90 day drivers licence suspension. The involved vehicle was towed and subject to a 7 day vehicle impound in accordance to the Ministry of Transportation (ADLS) guidelines.
2) OPP officers were dispatched at 10:26 p.m. September 10, 2025 to a report of a possible impaired driver accompanied by a number of intoxicated individuals parked in a restricted parking spot at a Simcoe County 93 Midland fast food restaurant. Attending officers spoke with the driver and entered into a drinking and driving investigation resulting in 47 year old Rachel Secord of Penetanguishene being charged criminally with the following offences.
- Operation while impaired – alcohol
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Theft Under $5000
The accused was released and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on October 23, 2025 and was also served a 90 day drivers licence suspension. The involved vehicle was towed and subject to a 7 day vehicle impound in accordance to the Ministry of Transportation (ADLS) guidelines.
A secondary property related investigation at Detachment resulted in 32 year old Dylan Campbell also of Penetanguishene being charged criminally with the offences of,
- Theft Under $5000
- Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 – in Canada
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
The accused was released and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on October 23, 2025.
