NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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ESPANOLA - On May 26, 2019, an officer from the Manitoulin detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was conducting a traffic stop with his emergency lights activated, when another vehicle failed to move over for the police vehicle. The officer located that vehicle and conducted a stop.
While speaking with the driver, the officer detected a strong odour of cannabis within the vehicle. A quantity of cannabis resin and cash was seized. The estimated street value of the seized items is over $10,000.
As a result of the investigation, 50-year-old John Gaudet of Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, has been charged with the following:
- Fail to Move into Another Lane for Emergency Vehicle or Tow Truck - If Safe to do, contrary to section 159(3) of the Highway Traffic Act;
- Possession of a Schedule II substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; and
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sudbury for a bail hearing on May 28, 2019.
The Ontario Move Over Law requires drivers to slow down when approaching an emergency vehicle or a tow truck on the roadside with its amber lights flashing and, on roads with two or more lanes, move over and leave a lane of space between you and the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so.
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