Updated November 15, 2024 @ 3:28pm
A 911 call to Barrie police on Thursday evening by someone who reported a suspected impaired driver operating a street sweeper. The person told the dispatcher the street sweeper was seen driving into oncoming traffic on Lockhart Road and operating the vehicle erratically before it left the street and became stuck in a ditch.
Cops swooped in on the sweeper and arrested the 35-year-old man for impaired driving. He was taken back to police headquarters where the investigation continued.
"While at police headquarters, the street sweeper operator was interviewed by a qualified breathalyzer technician. The operator refused to cooperate when asked to provide suitable samples of his breath for analysis, and as a result, was also charged with failure or refusal to comply with a demand," police said in a news release.
Police added in a post on X that the person was employed by a private company based in the Greater Toronto Area and was not actively sweeping when he entered the ditch.
"His reason for being in Barrie is not known." according to the post.
The accused was released from custody and has a December court date.
His driver's licence was suspended for 90 days, and the sweeper he was operating has been impounded for seven days.
