BRACEBRIDGE – A driver complaint leads to another vehicle operator being charged with impaired driving Wednesday night west of Bracebridge.

Police say that on June 12, 2013 at approximately 10:55 p.m. members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Bracebridge Detachment responded to a call from a concerned citizen who had been following an erratic driver for a period of time along Highway 141 near Raymond.

The citizen reported to police that the suspect vehicle had swerved over the center line several times, and speeds were constantly changing.

The OPP attended the scene locating a vehicle pulled over on Skeleton Lake Road 4 matching the description provided by the complainant.

Police spoke with the erratic driver who failed the roadside breath sample.

The lone male was arrested and transported to the Bracebridge OPP Detachment.

As a result 73 year old Roger Forget, of Bracebridge, is facing impaired driving and over 80mg of alcohol criminal charges.

As a result he will have his driver’s license suspended for 90 days and a seven-day vehicle impoundment.

Forget is scheduled to attend the Bracebridge Court on July 2, 2013 to answer to the charges.

Police would like to thank the quick thinking citizen who assisted in getting a dangerous driver off our roads.

GRAVENURST - A missing Gravenhurst man has family and police worried enough to ask the public’s help in a search for him.

Matthew Scott went missing early Thursday in Barkway, riding a yellow bike and carrying a black back pack.

Police are requesting the assistance from the public in locating missing 39-year-old Matthew Scott. 

Police were contacted by a concerned family member reporting that Scott had not returned home.

It is believed that he had left his residence on Barkway Road in Gravenhurst heading in the direction of Ben Lake Road on a yellow mountain bike, carrying a black back pack at approximately 7 a.m. May 30, 2013.

Description of Scott: 

• White male, 39 years old
• Height approximately 6’ 1”
• Weight approximately 200 Ibs
• Complexion- light/fair
• Hair colour- Gray, length short
• Eye colour- Green
• Was last seen wearing a Orange Sweatshirt
• Believed to not have a cell phone with him 

Police are asking anyone with information to contact 911 or the OPP non-emergency number at 1 (888) 310-1122. Further the local Bracebridge OPP Detachment number is 1 (705) 645-2211 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477. You can submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous.  Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.00

HUNTSVILLE - Whoever says that wearing helmets isn’t cool has it all wrong. Saving your brain from serious injury is always in style.

Police remind riders, parents and river that biking season is here, and with the increase of youth out on the bicycles there have been a lot noticed and warned in town for not wearing helmets.

They ask: “if you wouldn’t let your child ride in a car without a seatbelt, then why send them out the door without a helmet while riding their bicycle?”

Parachute in partnership with Safe Kids Canada states: Across Canada, only 37 per cent of cyclists wear their helmets all of the time.

In a Canadian study of severe injuries and fatalities among cyclists, skateboarders and inline skaters, it was found that 42 cent of those who did not wear a helmet suffered head injuries, compared with 23 per cent who wore a helmet.

Police offer this reminder to parents and youth that the Highway Traffic Act is very specific in saying that all youth under 18 years of age have to wear a helmet.

- Youth between the ages of 16 and 18 can be issued a Provincial Offences Notice for not wearing a helmet, the cost being $80 with the victim surcharge.

- Youth under 16years of can also be charged, but will be issued a notice to attend Provincial Offences Court with a parent explaining why the youth wasn’t wearing the helmet. 

- Parents could also be issued a Provincial Offences notice for allowing a youth under 16years of age not wearing a proper helmet. That cost also would be $80 with the victim surcharge.

RAMARA TWP. - A teenage driver faces possible charges after the SUV he was driving crossed the centre line of the Rama Road and a tow truck headed the other dirction was hit, injuring both drivers Monday afternoon.

Police say that on May 27, 2013, at 3:06 p.m., a serious motor vehicle collision involving two vehicles occurred on Rama Road, just north of Maple Avenue in Ramara Township, requiring police, fire and paramedic assistance.

The police investigation into the collision is being conducted by OPP at Orillia, and the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigation Unit (TTCI).

An SUV travelling north on Rama Road crossed the centre of the roadway striking a southbound tow truck. Both drivers were injured. One driver remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The 17 year old male driver of the SUV is from Ramara Township.

The driver of the tow truck is 49 years old and he is from Orillia.

The road was closed while police investigated the scene.

Road and weather conditions were good at the time of the collision.

Charges are pending at the conclusion of the investigation.

HUNTSVILLE – A fight at a house party that landed a man in hospital has resulted in a charge of assault and breach of probation against a 20-year-old Huntsville man.

Police say that on Saturday May 25, 2013 just after 2 a.m. OPP in Huntsville were called to a fight between two males that occurred earlier in the evening at a house party.

One of them found that he had been stabbed and was quickly taken to a local hospital when police were called. The victim was treated for his injuries and was soon after released from the hospital.

On Tuesday May 28, 2013, the accused Stuart Adamson was arrested and has been charged with Aggravated Assault and Breach of Probation X2.  The accused has been held for a bail hearing and will appear in Bracebridge court on May 29, 2013 to answer to his charges.

HUNTSVILLE - Motorists must always share the road with cyclists – but drivers here this Thursday will have to be on the lookout for a ‘Big Bike’ taking part in the annual Heart & Stroke fundraiser around town.

On the afternoon of May 30, the Big Bike lands in Huntsville and motorists can expect delays from 2 to 7 p.m. as the 20-plus charity riders navigate the downtown streets.

The start of the route this year is as follows: River Mill Park, to West St. N onto Main St following down to Cann St to John St then back up Main St onto King St returning to River Mill Park.

There will be 29 teams participating in the 2kms route on the Big Bike built for 30 raising funds in support of the heart and stroke research.

Huntsville OPP would like to remind motorists to be mindful of the Big Bike and its riders.

HUNTSVILLE – A 21-year-old woman has been charged with failing to yield to pedestrians after a grandmother and her three-year-old grand-daughter were struck by a turning auto on the town’s main street here Monday afternoon.

Huntsville OPP along with Muskoka EMS attended a motor vehicle collision on Centre St and Main St in the town of Huntsville just before 3:00pm on May 27, 2013.

Police say their initial investigation found that a vehicle was making a turn onto Main struck the two pedestrians. 

The woman and her grand-daughter were taken to hospital in town by Muskoka EMS.

The three-year-old was later transported to a Toronto hospital for observation.

As a result of the investigation, police report Crystal Lillico, 21, of Mountain Ont (North Dundas Twp.) was charged with Fail to Yield to Pedestrian.

HUNTSVILLE -  Last week Huntsville Ontario Provincial Police detachment members had several complaints of vehicles that had been gone through in the town of Huntsville.

Overnight on May 23^rd, 2013 several vehicles had been gone through that were not locked.  Items removed included laptops, GPS, DVD players, loose change, and other electronics.

Sometime overnight on May 27^th, unknown culprits entered vehicles in the North Drive, Vernon Lane area and removed items out of unlocked vehicles.  Items removed included miscellaneous electronics and change. 

Police suggest that if you value your items, remove them from your vehicle or put them out of plain view to would be culprits and lock your vehicles at night.

As well, they ask that anyone with any information about these thefts is asked to contact Huntsville OPP or Crime Stoppers.

BRACEBRIDGE - A South River man has been charged with impaired driving after police stopped him driving north in the southbound lanes of Hwy. 11 Tuesday.

Police say that on May 7, 2013, at about 2:50 a.m. officers from the OPP in Bracebridge responded to two calls from other motorists about a vehicle travelling northbound in the southbound lanes near a construction area north of Gravenhurst.

The second motorist had to pull off to the shoulder to avoid a collision with the vehicle.

The OPP responded quickly to the calls for assistance observing the suspect wrong way vehicle at Hwy. 11 and Muskoka Road 117 still travelling in the wrong direction.

Officers followed the suspect vehicle remaining in the northbound lanes attempting to get the drivers attention utilizing the police cruiser loud speaker, but the vehicle failed to stop continuing along the roadway in the wrong direction. 

The Huntsville OPP assisted successfully closing the highway to south bound traffic.

With the highway closed, Bracebridge officers initiated a pursuit following the suspect vehicle northbound in the southbound lanes.

A rolling block was initiated by officers boxing in the wrong way driver just north of Alpine Ranch Road. 

No one was injured during the incident, and the wrong way driver was arrested at the scene.

Police say Calvin Sararas, 55, of South River has been charged with:

• Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
• Exceed 80 mg of alcohol
• Fail to stop for police

Sararas is appear in Bracebridge court on May 28, 2013 to answer to the charges.

GRAVENHURST - Police and prison officials are looking for another walkaway from the minimum security prison here Sunday.

Prison officials say that on April 28, 2013, inmate Luigi Boni was discovered missing during the Beaver Creek Institution 11:45 a.m. count.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) immediately contacted the OPP, who began their lookout for 65-year-old escapee Boni.

He is described as 5-foot-10, and 179 pounds, with blue eyes and grey hair.

He is currently serving a life sentence for second degree murder.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police.

CSC and Beaver Creek Institution will be conducting a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and are working with the OPP to locate this offender as quickly as possible.

CSC has given the police all available information to assist in the inmate’s apprehension.