On Thursday at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Mississauga First Nation Police Service was on patrol on Village Road when the officer’s automated licence plate recognition system flagged a black SUV reported stolen from Blind River.
A traffic stop was initiated on Park Road, where the officer observed signs of drug impairment. The driver was arrested, and a search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure of suspected psilocybin and approximately .2 grams of suspected crack cocaine.
The East Algoma detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) assisted the Mississauga First Nation Police Service with the investigation.
The driver was transported to the Blind River detachment for an evaluation by a drug recognition expert.
Samantha Pellerin, 31, who resides in Mississauga First Nation, was charged with:
Operation while impaired — drug
Possession property obtained by crime over $5,000
Dangerous operation
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Pellerin is considered innocent until proven guilty.
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on Oct. 1.
Drug recognition experts are specially trained officers who are skilled in identifying and investigating drivers suspected of being impaired by drugs. If you suspect an impaired driver, call 911 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.