NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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On Jan. 24, 2024, shortly after 9:45 p.m., the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police responded to several complaints of vehicle in a ditch on Highway 17 within the community of Serpent River First Nation.
Police arrived on scene a short time later and observed a silver van in the eastbound ditch. While speaking to the driver police determined the driver was impaired by drug. The driver was arrested and transported to Elliot Lake OPP detachment for further testing.
Additionally, the accused was found to be a suspended driver and the van was reported stolen from the Town of Spanish.
As a result, Anthony Laforge-Budge, 30 years of age, from Spanish was charged with:
- take motor vehicle without consent
- operation while impaired-alcohol and drugs
- fail to comply with undertaking-other than to attend court
- driving while under suspension
The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Video Bail in Blind River on Jan. 25, 2024, and was remanded into custody.
The vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days with the driver being issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension.
The OPP remains committed to ensuring our roads are safe from drug-impaired and alcohol-impaired drivers.
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