Three Walpole Island residents facing drug charges

Tractor leaves scene after collision

Three Walpole Island First Nation residents are facing drug charges after multiple police services executed a search warrant on Austin Road last Thursday as efforts continue to address a drug epidemic in the community.

Three Walpole Island First Nation residents face drug charges after multiple police departments searched an Austin Road property last Thursday as efforts continue to address a drug epidemic in that community.

Officers with the Lambton County OPP community street crimes unit were joined by members of the Essex County OPP community street crimes unit, the OPP tactics and rescue unit, the emergency response team, a canine unit, forensic identification services, Walpole Island police and the Chatham -Kent police drug unit.

The two men, age 41 and 42, and a 33-year-old woman were arrested after a quantity of drugs and stolen property, valued at nearly $10,000, was seized from a residence, provincial police said.

All three accused were charged with four counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of drug possession.

The woman and the 41-year-old man were also charged with possession of property obtained by crime.

The accused were released with a future court date, provincial police said.

The search warrant is a result of investigations initiated due to the state of emergency declared by Walpole Island First Nation for the their current drug epidemic,” OPP officials said. “Lambton County OPP continues to work in conjunction with Walpole Police Service and Chatham-Kent Police Service to address the opioid-related crisis.”

If anyone has information this is event or another crime activity in the area, they are asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or *OPP (677) on a mobile phone. Anonymous calls can be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at www.sarnialambtoncrimestoppers.org.

Wallaceburg woman charged with impaired driving

A 44-year-old Wallaceburg woman faces an impaired driving charge after she was allegedly found asleep at the wheel of a still-running vehicle.

Lambton County OPP officers saw the vehicle parked and running on Blackthorn Crescent in St. Clair Township at 7:30 am Saturday.

Police said the accused appeared to be sleeping behind the wheel. After speaking with the driver, the officer believed she had consumed an alcoholic beverage, so a roadside screening device was administered, police said.

The driver was arrested for impaired operation and taken to the Lambton County OPP detachment, where she provided two samples over the legal limit.

The accused was released with a future court date, OPP said.

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