NAPS Officers Osnaburgh 63 Indian Reserve

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO   ~~~~~~~~  April 5, 2021  (LSN)  Hardworking Nishnawbe Aski Police Officers were busy last night,  on the Osnaburgh 63 Indian Reserve AKA Mishkeegogamang First Nation.  The NAPS Officers received a traffic complaint about a woman driving erratically on the Reserve.  Officers investigated and allegedly found an intoxicated woman who had been driving, along with an intoxicated passenger who had wa 1 year old baby in the back seat of the vehicle. NAPS Officers also found a half empty bottle of Silent Sam vodka, along with 7 empty Smirnoff Ice bottles and 5 full ones. The 1 year old baby was in the back seat with a white powdery substance all over its face.  The baby was not secured in a car seat as required by law.

When Officers informed the woman about the traffic complaint, she laughed at them.  Officers observed that she was visibly intoxicated.  A breath demand was made and the woman refused.  She was placed under arrest. The passenger MELISSA LAWSON was charged with public intoxication.  NAPS Officers took care of the 1 year old child and placed it into the care of a family member of LAWSON. 

A 32 year old ALLISON JANE MEKENAK was criminally charged with:

• -impaired driving
• -refusing to provide a breath sample
• -endangering the health and welfare of a child under 10 years old
• -breach of undertaking by being outside her home with alcohol in her body

MEKENAK has outstanding criminal charges from a previous incident and was held overnight in custody at the NAPS detachment. She appeared by phone in Thunder Bay Bail Court this morning, Monday April 5,2021 before Her Worship, Justice of the Peace Jennifer Neill.

Provincial Crown Attorney Natalie Nolan agreed to release MEKANEK on conditions:

• -not drive a motor vehicle
• -reside at an address on Henry Street on the reserve
• -not buy alcohol
• -not be outside home with alcohol in her body
• -report weekly to the NAPS detachment
• -no contact with MELISSA LAWSON 

Justice of the Peace Neill expressed to MEKANEK the seriousness of these allegations.  She agreed to the conditions of release though.  MEKENAK has a future court date.

#LSN_Crime  #LSN_FirstNation

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