A 23-year-old Wikwemikong First Nation man is facing criminal charges after attempting to flee from police.
On April 9 at approximately 12:02 a.m., an officer with the Batchewana First Nation Police Service was conducting general patrol in Batchewana First Nation when they saw a motor vehicle turn into the parking lot of the Batchewana Police Station on Nebenaigoching Street.
The vehicle then made an abrupt U-turn in front of the officer.
“A traffic stop was conducted, where the officer formed grounds to believe the driver was impaired by an intoxicating substance,” an OPP news release said.
“The officer requested the driver's documents, at which point they yelled an expletive at the officer and drove away.”
Two nearby officers with the Garden River Anishinabek Police Service attended to assist.
A second vehicle stop was attempted and the driver tried to flee by intentionally backing into one of the APS cruisers.
The vehicle then drove into a nearby ditch, where officers arrested the driver.
He was brought to the Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police detachment and tested for impaired driving.
As a result, Kobe Manitowabi of Wikwemikong First Nation was arrested and charged with:
- Flight from peace officer
- Dangerous operation
- Assault with a weapon
- Mischief under $5,000
- Resist peace officer
- Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs
- Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Drive motor vehicle - no licence
The accused was held for a bail hearing, and subsequently remanded into custody.
He was issued a 90-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
None of the accusations have been tested in court and the accused is considered innocent unless proven guilty.