NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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York Regional Police is once again thanking members of our community who are helping us keep our roads safe after multiple charges were laid against a 37-year-old man and stolen vehicle was recovered following a call to 911 from a concerned citizen who reported a suspected impaired driver.
On Friday Dec. 13, 2019, at 8:30 p.m., officers responded to the area of Bathurst Street and Bloomington Road West after a concerned citizen called to report a suspected impaired driver.
The caller continued to follow the vehicle providing updates to police dispatch on the vehicle’s location and the driving conditions. The York Regional Police helicopter Air2 kept observations on the suspect vehicle and guided officers to where it had stopped in the middle of the roadway.
The driver was arrested for impaired driving and through further investigation, officers discovered that the vehicle was stolen and a quantity of stolen property was located inside. The accused was also charged with assault and assault peace officer after spitting at a firefighter and a police officer while in custody.
Charged:
- Mukhtar Abdullahi, 37, No fixed address
Charges:
- Impaired operation
- Refuse to comply with demand
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
- Breach of peace bond
- Assault
- Assault peace officer
Sadly, we continue to see an increase in the number of impaired driving charges being laid each year. This year to date, we have laid more than 1,600 impaired driving related charges, more than 100 more compared to the same time frame in 2018. This year’s festive season RIDE began on Nov. 22, 2019 and will continue until Jan. 5, 2020. One of the focuses of our fight against impaired driving is the strong partnership with our community and encouraging our citizens to call 9-1-1 through the Safe Roads...Your Call program to report suspected impaired drivers.
So far this year, more than 3,000 people have called us to report a suspected impaired driver. That has helped us safely remove impaired drivers from our roads. If you see dangerous driving or behaviors on the road that could jeopardize the safety of motorists and pedestrians, you are encouraged to contact police immediately. The York Regional Police R.I.D.E. program is a year-long initiative that is enhanced during the festive season.
York Regional Police urges all drivers to take proactive measures if drinking by arranging for overnight accommodations, appointing a designated driver, taking a cab or using public transit. We’re not giving up. For more information, contact York Regional Police Corporate Communications at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 2664
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