A 22-year-old male driver was arrested for driving while impaired by a drug after a patrolling officer narrowly avoided a collision with the vehicle he was driving.
On Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at approximately 7:30 p.m., an officer from East Division was driving eastbound on Highway #2 in Bowmanville when a westbound Pontiac Aztec turned in front of the officer as it turned onto Boswell Drive. The officer had to brake sharply and avoided a collision with the Pontiac. The car was stopped a short distance away.
After conducting sobriety tests on the driver, he was arrested and transported to East Division. A small quantity of marihuana was seized from the driver. A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was called to conduct an examination of the driver, as he showed signs of being impaired by a drug.
Joshua VACHON, age 22, of Freeland Avenue in Bowmanville, is charged with: Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle by Drug and Possession of a Schedule II Substance. He was later released on an Undertaking with conditions.
A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) is a police officer trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than, or in addition to, alcohol.
Anyone with new information is asked to contact Cst. Parnsalu of East Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2008.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
Source: Durham Regional Police Service