THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Two individuals are facing charges following a traffic stop that resulted in a short foot chase involving the driver, as reported by the Ontario Provincial Police.
According to Thunder Bay OPP, officers noticed a front-seat passenger using drugs and a rear-seat passenger not wearing their seat belt on Highway 61 just before 1 p. m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
The vehicle was pulled over on Arthur Street. Police claim the driver became aggressive during an arrest for impaired operation and was taken into custody after a brief foot chase.
Luke Simmans, aged 29, from Marathon, is charged with:
Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs; Resisting a peace officer; Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; Personation with intent to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice; Three counts of failure to comply with a release order; Driving while under suspension; Failing to surrender a motor vehicle permit; Failing to surrender an insurance card.
Police have noted Simmans’ appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay for Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Aaron Boucher, aged 42, from Fort William First Nation, faces charges including:
Possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine; Being a passenger who failed to properly wear a seat belt.
Boucher is set to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
The police did not specify what the alleged weapon was or how much cocaine was involved.
All charges are allegations. Both individuals are considered innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The charges consist of federal criminal offences and provincial traffic offences. The penalties outlined below describe what can happen if someone is convicted. Sentencing would depend on the specific facts presented, any previous criminal record and applicable sentencing guidelines.
The Criminal Code charges have different maximum penalties. Each Criminal Code offence can proceed either by indictment or through summary conviction. This choice impacts potential sentencing outcomes.
Charge What the allegation means Maximum imprisonment if prosecuted by indictment Operation while impaired Driving while alcohol, drugs or both impair ability to drive. 10 years. Resisting a peace officer Resisting or deliberately obstructing an officer performing lawful duties. Two years. Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose Possessing something dangerous that could disrupt public peace or commit an offence. 10 years. Personation to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice Fraudulently using another person’s identity to escape arrest or interfere with justice. 10 years. Failure to comply with a release order Allegedly breaching conditions set out in court without lawful excuse. Three counts were noted by police. Two years for each count.
For these Criminal Code offences, prosecution through summary conviction has maximums up to two years less one day in jail plus fines up to $5,000-or both options combined may apply. Maximum penalties for separate counts shouldn’t be added together when predicting eventual sentences.
An impaired-driving conviction generally includes at least $1,000 fine for first-time offenders along with minimum jail terms: 30 days for second offenders and 120 days thereafter. A first offence also typically results in driving prohibitions ordered by court lasting between one and three years alongside any prison term given.
The cocaine charge pertains specifically to possession with intent to sell it illegally. The Crown needs to establish both knowledge of possession and intent regarding trafficking purposes-trafficking covers unlawful selling or transferring controlled substances without needing proof of an actual sale occurring before charging someone with possession-for-trafficking.
Cocaine falls under Schedule I substances classification where possessing it intending trafficking per section five under Controlled Drugs and Substances Act carries possible life imprisonment as its maximum sentence-not automatic but statutory ceiling nonetheless.
The provincial charges come with distinct penalties as well.
Driving while suspended: According general provisions listed within section fifty-three under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act states first violations could incur fines ranging between $1K-$5K plus up six-months incarceration-or combinations thereof applied equally across cases deemed qualifying subsequent offenses yielding double those amounts concerning fines/jail time frames respectively adding automatic half-year licence suspensions upon convictions made. Failing surrender vehicle permits concerns production registration documentation required inspection must face fines generally spanning $60-$1000 range. Failing provide insurance cards upon request entails penalties reaching upwards around max limit equal $400-all claims stand independently thus alone don’t determine whether uninsured status exists nor lack valid coverage overall found during inspections carried out subsequently afterward period leading event involving infractions cited previously too! Passenger failing secure proper safety restraints refers adult passengers being responsible towards usage provided equipment necessary adhering legal exemptions present however consequences violate such rules warrants financial repercussions reflecting between likely benchmarks starting around estimated lower-end fines possibly reaching closer upper limits hitting thousand dollars.
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