Two Arrested after Marijuana Use Leads to Bad Decisions
Release Date: April 6, 2018
18-12269 / 18-12305
A 17-year-old local youth and an 18-year-old local man are both facing charges after not calling paramedics and attempting to drive a friend to the hospital.
On April 5, 2018 at approximately 7:45 a.m. the 17-year-old accused began driving a friend to the hospital for whom she was concerned for his health due to excessive marijuana use. While on route the 17-year-old turned east onto First Avenue and crashed into a parked vehicle. The second accused, an 18-year-old had been riding in the passenger seat and after the collision he got behind the driver’s seat and drove the group away on a flat tire.
Almost two hours later the group was still driving around on the flat tire when stopped by police on Brock Street near Sydenham Street. Officers soon discovered that the male passed out in the back seat and the 18-year-old driver had both been using marijuana. Police arrested the 18-year-old for impaired driving by drug and called paramedics to the scene for the passed out male.
The 18-year-old was transported to police headquarters where he was tested by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Officer. At the conclusion of the tests it was the determination of the DRE that the 18-year-old was impaired by drug. The accused was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and later released with a future court date.
The 17-year-old was given a summons to court and charged under the Highway Traffic Act with drive no licence, and fail to remain at scene of accident.