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Driver charged after driving erratically, striking police cruiser near Thessalon: OPP

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A 29-year-old faces multiple charges after an incident that occurred earlier this week, Sault Ste. Marie OPP said in a news release issued today.

Police say they responded to an assist call from East Algoma OPP around 2 p.m. yesterday after a driver was spotted leaving Thessalon driving erratically at excessive speeds. 

At around 3:09 p.m., police say they spotted the vehicle driving erratically and hitting the shoulder of the road. The driver then collided with the parked police cruiser before driving off. 

With the assistance of Batchewana First Nation Police Service, the damaged pickup truck was stopped and as a result, Alexander Ciotti-Carpentier of Sault Ste. Marie was arrested and faces multiple charges (listed below). 

For more information, see the full release as follows: 

MACDONALD-MEREDITH-ABERDEEN ADDITIONAL TOWNSHIP — On April 27, 2022, shortly after 2 p.m., members from the Sault Ste Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Northeast Region (Sault Ste Marie) Canine Unit received an assist call from the East Algoma OPP reporting a pickup truck that left the Town of Thessalon driving erratically, excessive speeds and was westbound on Highway 17.

At approximately 3:09 p.m., OPP observed the suspect vehicle driving erratically and hitting the shoulder. The pickup truck made a left turn at the intersection of Highway 17 and Highway 638 where an OPP vehicle was parked. The pickup truck collided with the cruiser and continued on Highway 638 towards the Town of Echo Bay. With the assistance of Batchewana First Nation Police Service, the damaged pickup truck was stopped on Church Street. 

While arresting the driver, officers determined alcohol had been consumed. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to Sault Ste Marie detachment.  Police located open liquor, drug paraphernalia, a loaded sawed off shot gun, and gun parts in the vehicle.

As a result of the investigation, Alexander Ciotti-Carpentier, 29 years-of-age from Sault Ste Marie was charged with:

  • Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition contrary to section 86(1) of the Criminal Code (CC)
  • Possession of prohibited device or ammunition for dangerous purpose, contrary to section 88 of the CC
  • Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, contrary to section 91(1) of the CC
  • Unauthorized possession of weapon, contrary to section 91(2) of the CC
  • Knowledge of unauthorized possession of firearm, contrary to section 92(1) of the CC
  • Knowledge of unauthorized possession of weapon, contrary to section 92(2) of the CC
  • Occupant of motor vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted weapon, contrary to section 94 of the CC
  • Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, contrary to section 95(a) of the CC
  • Possession of a firearm knowing serial numbers has been tampered with, contrary to section 108(1)(b) of the CC
  • Dangerous operation, contrary section 320.13(1) of the CC (two counts)
  • Operation while impaired - Alcohol and drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the CC
  • Operation while impaired - Blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the CC
  • Flight from peace officer, contrary to section 320.17 of the CC

The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on April 28, 2022 and was remanded into custody.