A Laurentian Valley Township resident is facing a multitude of charges after an incident involving an ATV in the City of Pembroke. On December 3, 2023, at approximately 12:40 a.m., police attempted to conduct a traffic stop of an ATV in the area of Stuart Street and Forced Road in the City of Pembroke. Police had earlier received a report of a possible impaired driver on an ATV. The ATV failed to stop and fled the area.
Later, at approximately 1:50 a.m., police were called to a residence on McGee Street after a homeowner reported an ATV struck a fence. Police arrested the driver after locating them a short distance away. During the arrest process police were assaulted and threatened.
As a result of this incident 40-year-old Patrick Sanford REES has been charged with the following Criminal Code (CC), Highway Traffic Act (HTA), and Off-Road Vehicles Act (ORVA) offences:
· Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs
· Failure or refusal to comply with demand
· Dangerous operation
· Flight from peace officer
· Resist peace officer
· Assault peace officer
· Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm
· Disobey stop sign - fail to stop
· Unlawfully drive off-road vehicle on highway
· Fail to wear proper helmet
· Fail to drive at right edge of roadway
· Lamps not lit
· Fail to report damage to fence bordering highway
· Fail to stop - flashing red light - two counts
The accused had their driver's licence suspended for 90 days and the ATV was towed and impounded for seven days. The accused was released to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on January 9, 2024.