FORT FRANCES – On June 11, 2018, at approximately 5:00 AM, members of the Rainy River District Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call of a stolen vehicle in the Town of Fort Frances. Officers commenced an investigation and located a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle, at the intersection of Central Avenue and Third Street West. The vehicle had struck a metal hydro pole causing damage to the pole and to the vehicle. No one remained at the scene of the collision. Officers continued their investigation and located the vehicle owner at a local restaurant. Through their investigation, officers determined that the man was under the influence of alcohol and was the vehicle driver. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Fort Frances OPP detachment, where further tests were conducted.
As a result of the investigation, a Big Grassy First Nation man, Ron MATTHEWS, 31 years of age, has been charged with the following offences:
- Driving Motor Vehicle while Ability Impaired contrary to section 253(1)(a) of the Criminal Code,
- Driving with More than 80 Milligrams of Alcohol in Blood contrary to section 253(b) of the Criminal Code.
The accused was released on a Promise to Appear and is scheduled to appear at the Fort Frances Ontario Court of Justice on June 25, 2018, in answer to the charges.
