A Gravenhurst man who wracked up two impaired driving charges in under six months won’t be driving again any time soon.
Yesterday in a Bracebridge courtroom, Kenneth Copeland, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of impaired driving and an additional count of resisting arrest.
Court heard that on April 6, 2021, the Bracebridge OPP were called by a concerned citizen to report a possible impaired driver. The caller said they had seen a man stumbling before getting into a work truck on Wellington Street. The driver then subsequently ran onto the sidewalk nearly hitting the caller.
The OPP caught up with the truck at the intersection of Manitoba Street and Taylor Riad, where it was parked at a red light well into the intersection. Copeland got out of the truck and had to stabilize himself on the hood. He blew a blood alcohol reading of zero but a blood test revealed fentanyl, methadone and several other drugs in his system.
On August 24, 2021, police received a call about a single-vehicle crash on Raccoon Road in Gravenhurst. A witness reported that a pick-up truck had hit a road sign and then crashed into a tree.
Court heard that when police arrived Copeland had already fled the scene. Police caught up with Copeland and an altercation ensued before he was arrested. Copeland was arrested and taken to the hospital but refused to have a sample of his blood taken, court heard.
The Crown attorney argued for jail and a five-year driving ban, citing three ima[ired convictions and the extremely dangerous nature of the driving in the recent convictions.
The Defense argued for a three-year ban and said Copeland is now getting treatment for his addictions.
Copeland was ultimately sentenced to 60 days jail, 12 months probation and a three-year driving ban.
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