A 26-year-old Gretna man is facing multiple charges after police attempted a traffic stop in Winkler on the evening of September 7th.
Around 8:40 p.m., officers on patrol observed a vehicle turning onto Main Street, accelerating loudly and emitting a large cloud of black smoke. When police attempted to pull the vehicle over, the driver refused to stop, accelerated through a stop sign, and led officers on a brief pursuit.
The chase came to an end when the vehicle drove over a curb into Kinsmen Heritage Park and came to an abrupt stop. Police arrested the driver, noting a strong odour of liquor. A rifle with a loaded magazine was observed between the driver’s seat and console, and a further search uncovered another rifle, ammunition, and several cans of liquor.
The man, who was prohibited from driving and does not hold a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), provided two breath samples of 190 mg% and 180 mg%—more than twice the legal limit of 80 mg%.
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He now faces a list of charges including:
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Operation of a Vehicle While Impaired
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Operation of a Vehicle While Impaired Over 80 mg%
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Operation of a Vehicle While Prohibited
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Flight from a Peace Officer
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Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
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Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
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Possession of a Firearm Knowing it’s Unauthorized
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Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
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Careless Use/Transport of a Firearm
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Making Unnecessary Smoke (Highway Traffic Act)
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Making Unnecessary Noise, Namely Revving Engine (Highway Traffic Act)
Police say the vehicle was impounded for 30 days, the driver’s licence was suspended for three months, and the accused was remanded into custody to appear in Winnipeg Provincial Court the following day.