Loading...
The Citizen, 1999-05-26, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1999. Atwood man gets 11 months for driving drunk An Atwood man was sentenced in Wingham court. May 19, to 12 months at a treatment centre on two drunk-driving related charges Attorney for the Crown Frank Cameron said 38-year-old Larry Lorenz was charged May 7 after police caught up with him in Turn­ berry Twp. Cameron told Judge R.G.E. Hunter that police had been told by a witness of an erratic driv­ er. As police followed him, the driver “abruptly slammed on the brakes and stopped in the middle of the road,” said Cameron. The lone occupant of the car, then slid over into the passenger seat. The keys were not in the igni­ tion and when police asked for them, Lorenz said he didn’t have them. Placed under arrest, he hand­ ed the keys, which has been in his hand, to the officer. It was discovered that Lorenz was disqualified from driving. Defense counsel noted the man had “an obvious problem with alco­ hol, but had strong family support.” He submitted a letter from Lorenz apologizing for his actions to the police. Counsel also drew attention to the early guilty plea. Lorenz received 11 months for the impaired charge and one month consecutive for driving while dis­ qualified. There was a three-year probation period as well. REFUSE SAMPLE A Wingham man’s contention that asthma prevented him from providing a sample was not accept­ ed by Judge Hunter. James Leachman had appeared two months before and was given time to receive documentation from his doctor verifying his claims. Officer Nolan testified at Thurs­ day’s trial that he had been called to a residence on Sept.3. As he arrived he saw a car pull away. He activated the lights and the driver, Leachman, stopped. Smelling alco­ hol, Nolan said he asked the accused if he had been drinking, which he admitted. Trustee says one-way busing not helpful Continued from page 7 tional staffing costs so the sec­ ondary students could get a ride home. “One-way busing is not helpful at all. It’s simply not possible for many parents to get to Mitchell to pick up their children,” she said. Education Director Lome Rachlis said the board is not allowed to charge parents when students ride their buses but that parents would be welcome to rent a bus of their own to provide transportation. But, Armstrong said the cost of provid­ ing liability insurance would be prohibitive for parents. Moore said enrollment figures are not yet available for either the elementary or secondary summer school. The two planned routes to sum­ mer school in Mitchell include one starting in Wingham, stopping again in Clinton and moving to Mitchell and the other starting in Listowel, going to Stratford and then on to Mitchell. Pick-up points will be deter­ mined by the summer school prin­ cipal and students will be required to find their own way to the pick­ up points. There was a passenger in the car as well as a pit bull in the back seat, said Nolan. He took Leachman to the cruiser for a breath sample. Nolan testified that five attempts were made, dur­ ing one of which he observed Leachman, “sucking, not blowing”. Nolan said the accused was told he would be charged if he didn’t provide a sample. “He asked me what that would mean and I said it would be the same as if he blew over,” said Nolan. All this time the passenger in the other car was blowing the horn and yelling obscenities. The officer went over to quiet him and Leach­ man dove out the car window and “bolted down the street,” Nolan tes­ tified. Next day Leachman brought in his license to the police station and was charged. Nolan said he had detected no signs of ailment and that Leachman had not indicated at any time that he had a health problem or difficul­ ty breathing. Leachman’s testimony was that the officer coaxed him for a breath sample despite having been told by the accused that he would be unable. “When he said I was suck­ ing, I was wheezing and coughing. I told him there must be some other way to deal with this. He pretty much called me a liar.” The letter from Leachman’s physician indicated that if he took medication he would be able to breathe and run. Cameron noted that the accused hadn’t any appar­ ent difficulty running from the car. Cameron drew attention to the fact the letter did not say without medication Leachman would be unable to provide a sample. “It does not say your asthma is such that you have to take it to breathe or run.” Leachman countered, “Why did he say to take it I could breathe?” When questioned, Leachman admitted that he smoked. In finding him guilty, Hunter said, “Despite the claim of asthma you could dive out a window and run. I suggest (your asthma) was not creating any great problem that evening.” Asked if he wished to say any­ thing, Leachman, looking at Nolan, stated, “He’s a liar.” Letter Continued from page 6 contentment that is blanketing the province and following Mike Harris on his campaign. Did Harris actually visit the poor and homeless on Kingston Road? Do we need to fear an emerging, “Ministry of Truth”. Angelo Ippolito. EW • Crispy Caramel Reeses • Smartie Party • Toffee Truffle An Ice Cream Cone dipped in Chocolate and rolled in your choice of FLURRY TOPPING!!! • Oreo • Skor • Crispy Crunch • Peanuts • Reeses Pieces Flurr Hunter sentenced him to 15 days in jail. “I will not accept this in this court. You have been given every opportunity.” Leachman is also prohibited from driving for one year. THEFT An Exeter man faced charges of auto theft, driving while suspended and breaching probation. Paul Dasilva was accused of stealing the car of a former girl­ friend, Sept. 7. Though the Crown maintained the keys had been stolen, the accused said they had been given to him. He did admit, however, that he had not returned the car. The victim received a cash settle­ ment for the car, which was valued at $16,790. June 14, Dasilva’s wife told Citizen thwarts thieves On May 23 at approximately 1:45 a.m. a motorist was driving on Queen Street in the Village of Blyth when he saw two white males in their late teens to early 20s acting suspicious in front of the Knechtel Grocery Store by the pop machines. Police said when the youths saw the vehicle they fled from the area in an older Oldsmobile Cutlass. The store owner was contacted and the three pop machines were checked. Nothing was found missing. Anyone who has an idea who the culprits are or knows someone who has a vehicle like the one mentioned is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. POP MACHINE DAMAGED SMALL QUANTITY OF CHANGE STOLEN On May 17, at 5:45 p.m. OPP were called to investigate a theft in Blyth. A pop machine sitting in the front of the arena was forced open by thieves, sometime during the previous night. The front section of the machine was pried open and a small amount of change was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to call the Huron OPP or notify Crime Stoppers. STOLEN TRUCK FOUND IN SWAMP On May 15 a 1986 GMC pickup truck was reported stolen from the driveway of a farm on Cone. 2 in Grey Twp. Three days later, on the morning of May 18, a farmer who lives on Cone. 5 found the vehicle in the swamp. The farmer took police to the rear of his farm where someone had driven the vehicle 143 Josephine St., Wingham (519) 357-2191 Just what you will be looking for this spring police he was driving while under suspension. Nov. 19 he was released from custody. He failed to appear for an appointment at the probation office, Dec. 8. Dasilva pled guilty to all charges. Having been in custody, he was given just one day for the theft. He was fined $500 for the breach and $300 for driving while disqualified. DRIVING DRUNK A Wingham woman was fined $750 for over 80. Police arrested Marjorie Irwin April 5 after her she drove into a ditch. Her breathalizer readings were 250 and 240. Her attorney Charmian Hills said the woman was having personal problems and was trying to cope. In addition to the fine she is pro­ hibited from driving for 12 months. into the swampy area leaving it mired to its axles. Other items inside the truck had been thrown out along the laneway back to the swamp. The truck was taken to a local garage until Ident can arrange to check for any fingerprints. Anyone who has information that can lead to the arrest of the person responsible is asked to notify the Huron OPP or contact Crime Stoppers. FOR YOUR SWIMMING POOL $42-95 Power Pucks™ with ECT 2029™ allow pools to operate with less chlorine. A 5.6 kg of Power Pucks will last as long as a 7 kg of ordinary chlorine pucks. And, Power Pucks contain water clarifiers to add sparkle to your pool water. Ar. BioGuard.POOLS & SPORTS ; Phone:(519)527-0104 234 Main St. N., Seaforth I I I I I I I I I I I 'Name: i — •Address: Using BioGuard Lite® once a week will make your water sparkle like never before. To prove it, we’ll give you 2 free bags of BioGuard Lite ($15 VALUE) with your purchase of a 5.6 kg of Power Pucks. This offer expires June 30,1999. Not valid with any other offer. Limit of 2 bags of Lite per household. IMPAIRED A Blyth man is off the road for a year as a result of his charges laid March 28. Ken Stewart of Blyth was stopped by police in the village at 3:05 a.m. Officers noted an odour of alcohol. Failing the roadside test, he was taken to the detachment for breathalizer readings which were 150 and 152. He was fined $750 in addition to the prohibition. BREACH A Tees water man pled guilty to a breach charge. Cameron said David Stoll was to report to Wingham police on April 1 and failed to do so. He was fined $250. TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS SINCE MEETING NOTICE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS Morris Township regular council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 1,1999 will be held on Wednesday, June 2, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. Lite i i " ii J