Image

Petrolia man found guilty of drunk driving while helping friend out of the ditch

April 3, 2021

Alex Kurial/Local Journalism Initiative

A Petrolia man learned the hard way you don’t actually have to be found behind the wheel to be arrested for drunk driving.
Jaret Scarrow, 21, was the recipient of this lesson as his court case drew to a close Mar. 15.
It stemmed from an Oct. 9 incident last year when Scarrow came across a friend who was having driving issues of his own.
Scarrow’s friend had put his Chevy Malibu into a ditch on Confederation Road, severing a hydro pole in the process.
Scarrow happened to be passing by in his Ford Ranger and stopped to help.
Police arrived on the scene and found the Chevy driver, Scarrow and Scarrow’s passenger working to attach a tow rope to the downed Malibu.
Officers detected an alcohol odor on all three men and asked for breath samples. Scarrow objected on the grounds he wasn’t driving when police arrived.
“It was after explaining to Mr. Scarrow that the police do not need to see you behind the wheel, but only have reason to believe that you were operating the motor vehicle within the past two hours and that you may now have alcohol in your body, that they can then request the sample,” Defence Lawyer Nick Cake explained to the Sarnia courtroom.
A search of Scarrow’s truck also found a half-empty bottle of Smirnoff vodka and a bag of marijuana.
The Chevy driver was arrested for drunk driving while Scarrow’s passenger was later booked for causing a scene.
Justice Anne McFadyen handed Scarrow $2,350 in fines: $2,000 for failing to provide a sample and $175 each for driving with readily available alcohol and marijuana.
Scarrow is also banned from driving for a year.

The Local Journalism Initiative supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Forest Kiwanis hope a mandarin, apple and cucumber can raise some cash for Kineto

February 7, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent “Why would somebody give 6.2 million for a banana on the wall?” That’s what Forest’s Jose Van Haastert thought after seeing what a crypto billionaire paid for a piece of conceptual art with a banana on the wall. Her family talked about the massive price tag for the art over Christmas. But the idea got Van Haastert,

Read More

Image
News

New scholarship program at Great Lakes created in honour of late Sarnia judge

February 7, 2025

Students in St. Clair Township and Sarnia will be able to apply for a new scholarship program, named in honour of an Ontario Court Justice from Sarnia. The Sarnia Community Foundation says the family of the late Anne McFadyen has set up an annual scholarship program, similar to LCCVI’s Nicol Scholarships. It will honour five graduating students from Great Lakes

Read More

Front Page

Driver taken to hospital after Inwood accident

February 7, 2025

An Alvinston woman had to be taken to hospital after an accident near Inwood Monday. Lambton OPP have yet to release any details about the crash Monday morning which occurred during foggy conditions. Witnesses say two vehicles, a van and large pickup truck, collided at the corner of Inwood and Shiloh Line Monday morning. The van was T-boned. Brooke-Alvinston Fire

Read More

Image
Sports

LCCVI on top of girls high school hockey standings

February 7, 2025

LCCVI moved into a first place tie with Chatham-Kent Secondary School in girls’ high school hockey this week with a 2-1 win over the Golden Hawks in Chatham. The Lancers are 2-0-2 in the south division this season. The regular season wraps up late next week. Playoff dates have yet to be announced.

Read More