On April 2^nd, 2025 at 1:45 pm, officers were dispatched to the area of Peter and North St. about a possible impaired driver. Police received information from a member of the public that a male party entered a local business and asked for directions while exhibiting several signs of impairment, including a strong smell of alcohol. Shortly after police located the male driving a vehicle that was observed leaving the business. A traffic stop was conducted, and police quickly determined the driver to be impaired.

Wayne McLeod 53-year-old of Severn Township was charged with the following:

Adult Operation while impaired – Alcohol and drugs

Adult Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

Adult Operation While Prohibited under the Criminal Code

Adult Driving while under suspension

The post Severn Resident Gets Charged With Impaired After Asking For Directions appeared first on Muskoka411.

On December 7, 2024, just after 7:00 pm, officers were dispatched to a traffic complaint on Highway 12 near Horseshoe Valley Road in Oro-Medonte Township. Upon arriving, officers located the accused who was attempting to get back into their vehicle and was being spoken to by several concerned citizens. The accused was arrested and brought to the Orillia OPP Detachment for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, Jose Barcelos, 64-year-old from Severn Township, has been charged with Failure or Refusal to Comply with Demand

The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia at a later date. Their drivers licence has been suspended for 90 days, and vehicle impounded for 7 days.

The OPP remind motorists that no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive. Should you observe a suspected impaired driver, please dial 911 or contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display, and you will remain anonymous. You will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.00.

The post Severn Township Resident Charged With Impaired On Hwy. 12 appeared first on Muskoka411.

On December 1, 2024, at approximately 12:52 a.m., Orillia OPP were conducting patrols in the area of Highway 11 and Centre Ave. Officers located a vehicle stuck in a ditch on a ramp merging onto/off the highway, and stopped to assist.

During this interaction, officers discovered that the vehicle was stolen and that the driver was wanted for several criminal offences in Toronto. Upon learning this, the driver fled on foot to avoid arrest, but was located and arrested a short time later.

John Rashawn, 22-year-old of Etobicoke, has been charged with:
● Adult Obstruct Peace Officer
● Adult Possession Break In Instruments
● Adult Possession Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
● Adult Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court – two counts

The accused was held pending a bail hearing on December 1, 2024.

The post OPP Find Stolen Vehicle In The Ditch On Hwy. 11 In Severn Township appeared first on Muskoka411.

On November 19, 2024, at approximately 11:30 p.m., officers from the Orillia detachment of the OPP were alerted by the public to a vehicle displaying signs of erratic driving on Osprey Lane, in the Township of Severn. Officers began patrols and located the vehicle.

As a result, Rebekah Morton; 36-year-old, from Oro-Medonte, ON. has been subsequently charged with:

• Operation while impaired by alcohol
• Operation while impaired – 80 plus
• Driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available

The post OPP Find Impaired Driver In Severn Township appeared first on Muskoka411.

On September 30, 2024, officers of the Orillia OPP detachment, Major Crime Unit received information regarding a historical sexual assault, sexual interference incident. Police were advised in June 2024, the accused party advised a group of younger female youths that he was 17 years old, provided alcohol and had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female.

Since the investigation began, additional victims have come forward. Police believe there could be further victims.

As a result of this investigation, Ty Arends, 21-year-old of Severn Township has been charged with:

·        Assault Cause Bodily Harm- Choke, suffocate or strangle

·        Sexual Interference x3

·        Sexual Assault on a Person Under 16 years x3

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Anyone with information about these or a similar incident is urged to call the Orillia OPP Major Crime Unit at 1-888-310-1122. You can also provide information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com

There is no statute of limitations on sexual offences and a report can be made to police at any time, regardless of how much time has passed. If you do not wish to make a report to police or need more time and support to make that decision, there are community partners available to help. Ontario 211 provides information on Ontario’s community, social and health related government services. Simply call 2-1-1 or visit www.211ontario.ca for more information.

The post Severn Township Resident Faces Several Sexual Assault Charges appeared first on Muskoka411.

Just before 3:00 a.m., on August 2, 2024 officers of the Orillia OPP were called to a report of a collision in the area of Marchmont Road in Severn Township. Police arrived at scene, were able to locate the driver who was attempting to evade police. Upon speaking with the male, officers noted numerous signs of being intoxicated.

As a result, Michael Snider, 30-year-old of Severn Township has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol
• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus

Just after 7:00 p.m., on August 3, 2024, officers of the Orillia OPP responded to reports of a traffic complaint. Officers located the motor vehicle in the area of Highway 12 and Couchiching Point Road in the City of Orillia. The driver was showing signs of being intoxicated.

As a result, Michael Watson, 48-year-old of the City of Guelph has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol
• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus

At 3:30 p.m., on August 4, 2024, officers of the Orillia OPP responded to reports of a traffic complaint. Officers located the vehicle in the area of Diana Drive in the City of Orillia. Officers spoke with the male driver and found he was showing signs of being intoxicated.

As a result, Shawn Smith, 52-year-old of the City of Orillia has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol
• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus
• Driving motor vehicle with open container of liquor

At 8:00 p.m., on August 5, 2024 officers of the Orillia OPP responded to reports of a traffic complaint. Officers were able to locate the vehicle in the area of Olive Dr in Oro-Medonte Township. Upon speaking with the driver, signs of being intoxicated were noted.

As a result, Todd Simpson, 38-year-old of Oro-Medonte Township has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol
• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus

At 1:00 a.m., on August 8, 2024, officers were conducting a R.I.D.E. program in the City of Orillia. A driver approached the program and displayed signs of being intoxicated.

As a result, Timothy Finley 41-year-old of Fenelon Falls Township has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol
• Operation while impaired- blood alcohol concentration 80 plus

The accused parties are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Orillia, to answer to the charges at a later date in August 2024. Their driver’s licences were suspended for 90 days, and vehicles were impounded for a period of 7 days.

Orillia OPP would like to thank the members of the public who contacted police in regards to the traffic complaints.

The Orillia OPP reminds motorist to plan ahead when consuming alcohol or drugs. Use a designated driver, cab, rideshare, public transit or stay overnight. Any amount of alcohol or drugs can impact your ability to make sound judgements. In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you.

The post Orillia OPP Report Five Impaired Drivers appeared first on Muskoka411.

On July 19, 2024, officers of the Orillia OPP responded to a serious accident involving a transport truck on County Rd 16 near Heron Dr. The initial information was that transport truck was in the ditch on its side with an occupant trapped inside.
With the assistance of Southern Georgian Bay OPP, Simcoe County Paramedics and Severn Fire, a lone male occupant was removed from the wreckage. He was transported to a local hospital where he would be airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre with serious non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed or has camera footage of the collision and has not spoken with police is asked to contact the Orillia OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

The post Driver Taken To Hospital After Collision In Severn Township appeared first on Muskoka411.

On July 22, 2023, just before 11:00 p.m., Orillia OPP and emergency crews responded to reports of a collision on Highway 11 in Severn Township. Upon arrival, a minibus was located stopped on the shoulder of the highway and a male was located a short distance away with life-threatening injuries. Orillia OPP and emergency crews performed lifesaving measures. The male was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The initial investigation revealed the deceased was an occupant on the minibus and fell out of the moving vehicle, which struck him resulting in fatal injuries.

The investigation is ongoing. The OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) team along with the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario (OCCO) are assisting with the investigation.

Highway 11 southbound between New Brailey Road and Ego Road was closed for several hours and has since been reopened.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage is asked to contact Orillia OPP at 705-325-3536 or 1-888-310-1122.

Members of Orillia OPP are committed to public safety, delivering proactive and innovative policing in partnership with our communities. Officers value your contribution to building safe communities. If you have information that may be helpful, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.crimestopperssdm.com.

The post Fatal Collision On Hwy. 11 In Severn Township appeared first on Muskoka411.

On July 1, 2023, at approximately 10:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to a vehicle crashing into a house on Hickory Beach Road. The investigation led to the arrest of the driver.

Dylan Curtis, 26 years of age, of Severn Township, has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired – alcohol
• Dangerous operation
• Failure to stop after accident
• Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)

On July 3, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a single-vehicle collision on Monk Road west of Head Lake. The investigation resulted in impaired driving charges.

Andrew Hodson, 37 years old, of Brooklin, has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired- alcohol and drug
• Failure or refusal to comply with demand

The accused are both scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Lindsay on a later date. They both received a 90-day licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle impound.

In addition to these collisions, City of Kawartha Lakes OPP officers attended two other serious collisions that resulted in impaired driving charges.

On June 30, 2023, in Little Britain, three passengers suffered serious life-altering injuries after their side-by-side utility terrain vehicle (UTV) was involved in a single-vehicle collision. The driver was arrested and charged for impaired operation.

On July 1, 2023, in Coboconk, a pedestrian in critical condition was taken to a Toronto-area trauma centre after being struck by a car on private property. The driver from this incident was arrested for impaired operation.

Motorists are asked to plan ahead and find a safe and sober ride home. Any amount of alcohol or drugs can impair judgement. It is illegal to drive impaired anywhere, including private property, with any motorized vehicle, including a car, off-road vehicle (ORV) and boat.

Anyone who suspects a driver may be impaired is asked to call 9-1-1.

The post Severn Resident Charged With Impaired After Vehicle Crashes Into House appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Orillia OPP, the OPP Canine Unit, The OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the OPP’s Aviation Services were dispatched to search an area for a missing male that had not returned home.

Family members located his camp site near Burrows Lake in the Township of Severn. but had not seen or heard from the individual. OPP searched the area extensively and located the 71-year-old male deceased near his campsite. The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario are assisting with the investigation. No foul play is suspected.

The name of the male was not released.

The post Male Located Deceased Near His Campsite In Severn Township appeared first on Muskoka411.