A man driving with a child in his vehicle is now facing a charge of operating it while high.
Windsor police's Amherstburg detachment responded Wednesday evening to a complaint about a suspected impaired driver. A concerned citizen called 911 to report that the driver was acting aggressively while patronizing a business on Sandwich Street North. The man was then seen driving away erratically with an infant strapped in the back seat.
Officers spotted the suspect vehicle a few minutes later and stopped it in the area of Richmond Street and Boardwalk Avenue. Signs of impairment were detected, and the driver was arrested for driving while impaired by drug. The man was transferred to Windsor Police Headquarters for assessment and it was confirmed the driver was impaired by cannabis.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a small quantity of pot and a prohibited weapon, according to Windsor police Sergeant Steve Betteridge.
The man is charged with driving while impaired by drug, driving with cannabis readily available in the vehicle, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The driver is not being identified to protect the identity of the infant passenger. The baby was not hurt and was returned to a caregiver.
Windsor police would like to remind people that although cannabis is legal, it is still a serious offence to drive while high.
"Drug users must understand and respect the associated dangers. This incident could have had a very tragic ending," said Betteridge.
Anyone with information on this or any similar incident is asked to call Windsor police at (519) 255-6700, ext. 4000 or Crime Stoppers.