RAINY RIVER DISTRICT – CRIME BLOTTER – Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in the Rainy River District reported a busy Easter long weekend, with two impaired driving arrests and a total of 104 traffic-related charges laid between April 18 and April 21, 2025. Innovative enforcement tools, including drone surveillance, were deployed to enhance road safety efforts across the district.
Fort Frances OPP Respond to Driver Found Unresponsive Behind the Wheel
The first impaired driving incident occurred around noon on April 19. Fort Frances OPP were called to investigate a report of an unresponsive individual behind the wheel of a parked vehicle. Officers arrived and forced entry into the car when the occupant failed to respond.
A subsequent investigation determined that the driver was impaired by drug consumption and required immediate medical assistance.
Brett Brown, 19, of Fort Frances, was charged with one count of impaired operation – alcohol or drug. He is scheduled to appear at the Fort Frances Ontario Court of Justice on May 12, 2025, to answer to the charge.
Atikokan Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest Thanks to Automated Plate Reader
Later that day, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Atikokan OPP stopped a vehicle on Highway 11 west of town after the automated licence plate recognition (ALPR) system flagged a vehicle of interest.
The officer determined that the driver had consumed alcohol and administered a roadside test, which the driver failed. The individual was arrested and transported to the Atikokan detachment for further testing.
Joanie Alison Spoon, 45, from Seine River First Nation, was charged with impaired operation – alcohol or drug and impaired operation with blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg. Her driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days, and her vehicle was impounded for seven days. Spoon is set to appear in the Atikokan Ontario Court of Justice on May 29, 2025.
Innovative Drone Surveillance Results in Distracted Driving Charges
The Rainy River District’s enforcement efforts were bolstered by a new collaboration between Fort Frances OPP and Treaty Three Police Service, who used drone technology to monitor driver behaviour during the long weekend.
This marked the first use of drones in the district for traffic enforcement. The initiative successfully captured video evidence of motorists using handheld devices while driving, resulting in seven distracted driving charges.
OPP Urges Community to Report Impaired Drivers as Incidents Rise
With 104 total traffic charges laid over the holiday weekend and a continued increase in impaired driving incidents, the OPP emphasizes the importance of public involvement in keeping roads safe.
The Rainy River District OPP remains committed to enforcement and public education, and urges residents to report impaired drivers immediately by calling 9-1-1. Authorities remind everyone that road safety is a shared responsibility.
