By CHIEF ROB DUTTCHEN, Corman Park Police Service
Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) officers continue to see the positive impact of technology and proactive patrol work, with several suspended, impaired, and wanted drivers being taken off the road in recent days.
On the evening of February 24, CPPS officers were on patrol in the area of Township Road 384 and Range Road 3050 when the Automated Licence Plate Reader (ALPR) signalled a vehicle linked to a suspended driver. A traffic stop confirmed the alert—the driver was not only suspended but also operating on a learner’s licence without a supervising driver. Two offence notices were issued, and the vehicle was impounded roadside for 30 days.
The following afternoon, February 25, officers encountered a motorist with apparent mechanical trouble on a service road near Highway 305 and Highway 16. Stopping to assist, police quickly recognized the driver as a suspended individual known to them. Further checks confirmed several outstanding warrants. During the interaction, officers noted signs of possible drug impairment and demanded an oral fluid sample, which tested positive for cannabis. To make matters worse, the vehicle’s licence plate did not belong to the car. The driver was provided new court dates for the warrants, issued further driving prohibitions, and the vehicle was impounded.
In the early hours of February 28, another traffic stop was initiated after officers observed erratic driving. The driver was found to be operating on a suspended learner’s licence, breaching a court-imposed curfew, wanted on warrants from both Prince Albert and Saskatoon, and impaired by cannabis. He was charged for breaching his curfew, issued new appearance dates, and subjected to additional driving prohibitions. When he was taken for remand, officers discovered he had been impersonating his twin brother. The suspect was returned to the Saskatoon RCMP detachment, where he was charged for his own warrants and for personation.
Later that same evening, CPPS officers were called to a report of a vehicle stuck in a field near Range Road 3062 and Battleford Trail. Three individuals were found standing beside the vehicle, which had trespassed onto private property. All were identified, and police checks revealed the licence plate affixed to the vehicle was stolen. One of the individuals also had an outstanding warrant from Saskatoon. The vehicle was towed, the stolen plate seized, and all three were charged with trespassing. The wanted person was processed on the outstanding warrant.
At around 9:00 p.m. on March 1, CPPS officers responded to a call from RCMP dispatch regarding a single-vehicle collision on Highway 14. Upon arrival, police quickly recognized signs of drug impairment. After the driver performed poorly on a Standard Field Sobriety Test, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation was requested. The driver again performed poorly during the specialized assessment at the Saskatoon RCMP detachment. The suspect was charged criminally with drug-impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000—the vehicle he crashed was confirmed to be stolen.
These incidents, occurring over just a few days, reinforce how technology like ALPR, combined with officer vigilance and proactive enforcement, continues to make a tangible difference in improving road safety across the RM of Corman Park area.