ALCOHOL-RELATED CHARGES

August 21, 2025 · 0 Comments

Officers from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged three drivers with alcohol related offences.

“On August 2, 2025, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Caledon OPP officers were on general patrol in the area of Dixie Road and Mayfield Road, in the Town of Caledon,” say Police. “Officers located a stationary vehicle in the road, facing the opposite way of traffic flow. Investigating officers conducted a traffic stop upon the vehicle and subsequently formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.”

Following the investigation, Tamika Messam, 34, of Newmarket, was charged with:

Failure or refusal to comply with demand.

The charge has not been proven.

“On August 3, 2025, just before 4:00 a.m., Caledon OPP officers received a report of a single vehicle collision on Dotchson Avenue, near Kennedy Road, in the Town of Caledon. Officers arrived on scene and subsequently formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.”

As a result of the investigation, Gurtej Gill, 44, of Brampton, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – alcohol;

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

The charges have not been proven.

“Just hours later, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Caledon OPP officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Boston Mills Road and Airport Road, in the Town of Caledon. Officers arrived on scene and began to investigate. Shortly after, officers formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.”

Following the investigation, Rodrigue Yvan Fotso Mbe, 25, of Scarborough, was charged with:

Obstruct Peace Officer;

Failure or refusal to comply with demand.

The charges have not been proven.

All accused parties are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on August 21, 2025, to answer to their charges. The vehicles were also impounded for a period of seven days, and their driver’s licences were suspended for a period of 90 days.

“The OPP remains committed to keeping our communities safe through enforcement and public education. Penalties for failure or refusal to comply with demand are similar to those imposed upon a driver charged with operation while impaired. These penalties include an immediate 90-day licence suspension, seven-day vehicle impoundment, as well as licence reinstatement fees. Additional penalties are imposed upon conviction and increase for each proceeding offence.”

For more information about the penalties of driving impaired, visit: www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

IMPAIRED CHARGES

Officers from the Caledon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a driver with numerous offences after a recent investigation.

“On August 3, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Caledon OPP officers were on general patrol in the area of Highway 10 and Old School Road in the Town of Caledon,” say Police. “The in-cruiser Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) system issued an alert regarding a licence plate infraction. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop upon the vehicle, but the driver failed to stop for police and fled the area. Shortly after, the vehicle and driver were found in a nearby ditch, after being involved in a single vehicle collision.

“Officers continued their investigation and formed grounds that the driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.”

Following the investigation, a 21-year-old from Mississauga, was charged with:

Operation while impaired – alcohol;

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

Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;

Flight from peace officer;

Drive vehicle with cannabis readily available;

Driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available;

Fail to surrender licence;

Fail to remain;

Use licence plate not authorized for vehicle.

The accused was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton to answer to their charges.

The charges have not been proven.

The driver’s vehicle was also impounded for a period of seven days, and their driver’s licence was suspended for a period of 90 days.

“Drivers continue to take chances. It’s simply not worth the risk. Motorists are reminded that no amount of alcohol or drugs in your system is safe when driving. If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi or public transit, or come up with another plan that takes impaired driving out of the picture. If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 9-1-1 to report it.”

ROAD RAGE INVESTIGATION

Officers of the Nottawasaga Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a serious road rage incident that occurred on August 13, 2025 between the hours of 11:00 p.m., and 12:14 a.m., in the Town of New Tecumseth and are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect vehicle and driver.

“At approximately 12:14 a.m. on August 14, 2025, police received a report from a motorist who had been involved in a road rage incident,” say Police. “The victim was travelling westbound on County Road 1 when they observed a white Ford F-150 pickup truck ahead of them swerving and braking erratically.

“Upon reaching the intersection of County Road 1 and Adjala-Tecumseth Townline, the victim passed the suspect vehicle, stopped, and briefly confronted the driver. The victim did not obtain a description of the driver or a licence plate number.

“The victim continued westbound on County Road 1, but the suspect vehicle quickly reappeared behind them. Both vehicles turned northbound onto County Road 50. As they approached the intersection of County Road 50 and Highway 89, the victim entered the left turning lane while the suspect vehicle entered the right turning lane, positioning itself side-by-side with the victim’s vehicle.

“At that moment, the victim heard a loud bang, initially believed to be a rock striking the vehicle. Upon returning home, the victim discovered a bullet hole in the front passenger door. Officers attended the scene and recovered bullet fragments from the door.”

The suspect vehicle, described as a white Ford F-150, was last seen heading eastbound on Highway 89 toward Alliston.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have dash cam footage from the area between 11:00 p.m. on August 13 and 12:30 a.m. on August 14 to contact the Nottawasaga OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

SAFETY STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging families, caregivers, and communities to take proactive steps to protect individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, particularly when wandering or going missing becomes a concern.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ontario, 60% of people with dementia-related memory problems will become lost or wander at some point, often without warning.

The OPP encourages the use of multiple safety strategies, including tracking devices and community-based programs, to help locate individuals quickly and safely. No single product or strategy can guarantee safety, but combining technology with community awareness can make a critical difference.

Tracking Devices: What to Know

Tracking devices, also known as locator devices, use technologies such as GPS, radio frequency (RF), or Bluetooth to help caregivers and emergency responders locate a missing person. Each technology has its own strengths and limitations:

GPS: Best for outdoor tracking; requires frequent charging;

RF: Effective indoors; shorter range than GPS;

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Long battery life; limited range, especially in rural areas.

Before choosing a device, families should consider several factors to ensure the right product is chosen. A comprehensive list of locator devices, including physical devices and mobile apps, has been compiled by the Aging and Innovation Research Program, in collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and AGE-WELL NCE.

Project Lifesaver: A Proven Partnership

The OPP has partnered with several Alzheimer Societies across Ontario to implement Project Lifesaver, a program designed to protect and quickly locate individuals at risk of wandering. Participants wear a lightweight bracelet transmitter that emits a unique radio frequency signal. When someone goes missing, trained officers use specialized receivers to locate the signal, often within minutes.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began its involvement with Project Lifesaver in 2005, when the Essex County Detachment launched a pilot program in partnership with Project Lifesaver International. In 2008, the Caledon Detachment followed with its own pilot initiative. These early successes demonstrated the program›s effectiveness in locating individuals at risk of wandering due to cognitive conditions such as dementia. As a result, the OPP formally endorsed the use of Project Lifesaver later in 2008, supporting its broader implementation across the province.

It is a community decision whether to adopt Project Lifesaver. The OPP is willing to partner with any community in our jurisdiction to support Project Lifesaver and will absorb the costs for all officer training associated with the program. More than 20 OPP-policed communities currently partner with Project Lifesaver. Visit projectlifesaver.org for more information.

Additional Resources and Safety Measures

Finding Your Way helps people living with dementia, their families, caregivers and communities to recognize the risk of going missing, be prepared for incidents of going missing, and ensure that people with dementia can live safely in the community;

The Alzheimer Society of Canada recommends early conversations about tracking devices and safety strategies, especially following a diagnosis. These discussions should reflect the individual’s values around privacy, independence, and safety;

Door alarms can alert caregivers when someone leaves the home.

The OPP continues to work with health organizations, long-term care facilities, and families to promote safety and awareness. If someone you care for is living with dementia, please contact your local Alzheimer Society or OPP detachment to learn more about available resources.

To report a missing person, call 9-1-1 immediately.

WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET EVERY TIME: OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is continuing to urge everyone heading out on, or near, the water to make one life-saving choice: wear your life jacket – every time, every ride.

Despite calm conditions and proximity to shore, many boating-related drownings occur when people least expect danger. In fact, 89% of victims in boating-related drownings were not wearing a life jacket. Most of these tragedies happen in small vessels, like canoes and kayaks, and are preventable.

In 2024, drowning remained one of the leading causes of accidental death in Ontario, especially among men aged 20-60. But the risk extends beyond boating. According to the Drowning Prevention Research Centre of Canada, 35% of water-related fatalities in Ontario are linked to swimming, while another 13% are attributed to walking, running, or playing near water, accounting for nearly half of all drownings when combined.

Young children, weak swimmers, and non-swimmers should always wear a life jacket when near water, even in shallow areas. Supervision and proactive lifesaving decisions, like wearing a life jacket, are key to avoiding tragedy.

What You Can Do:

Always wear a properly fitted, Transport Canada-approved life jacket;

Set the example, especially for children and new boaters;

Check weather and water conditions before heading out.

Modern life jackets are lightweight, comfortable, and designed to save lives. Don’t just bring it, wear it. Make it a habit. Make it home.