NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
*************************
Over the past week, 14 drivers were charged with impaired-related criminal driving offences and their vehicles removed from York Region roads. On Saturday, May 11, 2019 shortly before midnight, a call was placed to 9-1-1 by a concerned citizen who was watching what was described as an extremely intoxicated man standing beside his vehicle in the area of Davos Road and Fossil Hill Road in the City of Vaughan.
As officers were en route to the area, they were advised that the man got into his car and had driven away. With the assistance of the York Regional Police helicopter Air2, the vehicle was observed driving in the neighbourhood at high rates of speed and failing to stop for stop signs. The vehicle eventually stopped and when approached by officers, the driver was reclined in his seat and appeared to be sleeping.
The driver was placed under arrest for impaired driving and taken to #4 District for a breath test, where he blew over the legal limit for alcohol.
In an effort to bring further attention and deterrence to driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, York Regional Police is reporting the names of those people who are charged with impaired-related criminal driving offences.
In addition to being charged, these individuals are also bound by a Ministry of Transportation 90-day administrative driver's licence suspension and are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle on a roadway. York Regional Police or Crime Stoppers should be contacted if citizens are aware of anyone driving in contravention of the suspension.
The following individuals have been charged criminally with impaired driving by alcohol or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mgs or above of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, or refusing to provide a breath/blood sample.
- Charles Gallagher, 70, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Sam Farjam, 23, City of Richmond Hill
- Afshin Heydari-Alamdari, 22, City of Toronto
- Herbert Downing, 68, Town of New Tecumseth
- Ilia Pogonia, 47, City of Vaughan
- Maverick Tigrero, 23, City of Toronto
- Lyle Williams, 48, Township of King
- Barry Lackie, 55, Town of Uxbridge
- Jhon Henao-Leon, 49, City of Toronto
- Brayden Barton, 21, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
- Timothy Liu, 26, City of Richmond Hill
- Anibal Silva, 53, City of Vaughan
- Jennifer Hart 31, Town of Caledon
- Suresh Nagarasa, 28, City of Vaughan
York Regional Police thanks members of the community for helping us stop and arrest impaired drivers by calling 9-1-1 through the Safe Roads: Your Call program. We consider these incidents a lifethreatening crime in progress and will continue to respond to these calls. So far in 2019, more than 1,000 calls to 9-1-1 have helped to safely remove impaired drivers from our roads, which has led to more than 600 impaired-related criminal charges being laid.
*************************
Editor's note: This news release was edited May 14 at the request of York Regional Police to remove the name of a woman included on the list of impaired-related charges in error.
