On Monday August 14, 2023, at approximately 10:08 a.m., the Essex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Marine Unit received a report of a possible impaired boater operating a personal watercraft in Lake Erie between Colchester and Amherstburg.
Marine Unit members observed a personal watercraft matching the description and attempted to make contact with the operator. There were two occupants on the personal watercraft, and it made it to land. Assistance was provided by members from the Essex Detachment OPP to locate the occupants on land but were unsuccessful.
Officers continued their investigation; it was discovered that the personal watercraft had been stolen. the two occupants of the personal watercraft were identified.
As a result, police have charged Dustin Rhys RHODES-SHANKS, 35-year-of-age of Essex, under the Criminal Code and the Canada Shipping Act with:
· Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 S.354(1)(a) CC,
· Operating non-human-powered pleasure craft without prescribed additional personal life-saving appliances on board CSA 2001 – SVR 204(c),
· Permitting person to operate pleasure craft without copy of licence on board CSA 2001 – SVR 101(b),
· Operating licensed pleasure craft on which licence number not marked and maintained in the specified form and manner CSA 2001 204(a),
· Person who operates or permits another person to operate a vessel failing to ensure that it is marked with hull serial number CSA 2001 – SVR 901,
· Operate a pleasure craft without prescribed competency CSA 2001 – COPCR 3(1)(a).
And also charged is Lauryn Rachelle CARTER, 31 years-of-age of Essex, under the Criminal Code with:
· Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 S.354(1)(a) CC.
The accused are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice located in Windsor at a later date.
Photo by Mike Gosselin