Thunder Bay Police Service officers with the Uniform Patrol Branch were dispatched to a parking lot in the 1100 block of Memorial Avenue following traffic complaints just after 2:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.
The traffic complaints indicated a male driving a black pick-up truck appeared to be falling asleep as he drove. Witnesses also said the man had driven through a red light at an intersection near the Shopper’s Drug Mart parking lot he stopped at.
When officers arrived they located a male and truck matching the description provided by witnesses.
The man’s door was wide open and he appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat as officers arrived.
Officers approached the man to check on his welfare. After waking him they noticed significant signs of impairment. Officers conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety test, which the man failed.
As a result of that failure the male was arrested and brought to the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters for further evaluation. A qualified Drug Recognition Expert conducted further screening and determined the driver was impaired by drug.
Officers also located a quantity of unidentified pills in the man’s possession.
The accused, a 26-year-old Thunder Bay man, is charged with Operation While Impaired by Drug and Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance.
He was eventually released with a promise to appear for a future court date of Sept. 29, 2019.