A Winkler man is facing multiple charges after police responded to a June 6th complaint about a suspected impaired driver.
Winkler Police Chief Ryan Hunt said the call came from a business employee who noticed someone inside the store appeared impaired. Officers located the vehicle shortly after it left the scene. “The officers quickly located the vehicle and made the determination that the driver was operating after having consumed liquor. There was a strong odor of liquor inside the vehicle,” Hunt explained.
The driver was arrested and taken to the Winkler Police Service, where he refused to provide a breath sample. “So then it's pretty simple. We just charge them with refusal, and they have to go to court and in the meantime, their vehicle's impounded, license still suspended,” Hunt said.
He added that refusal carries serious consequences: “It's the actually the consequences of refusal are probably similar to driving impaired, or maybe even a little bit higher. So it's not an easy out for somebody when they decide to refuse a breath sample.”
During the booking process, the man became uncooperative and assaulted an officer.
The man was charged with Impaired Operation, Assaulting a Peace Officer, and Failure or Refusal to Comply with a Demand. His licence was suspended for three months and his vehicle impounded for 60 days. He was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Morden Provincial Court.