Intoxicated driver refuses ride from police in Garden River

A heavily intoxicated driver paid the price for turning down a ride from police last summer. Robert Lesage asked an Ontario Provincial Police officer to leave Highway 17 in Garden River First Nation on Aug. 4, 2025. His speech was slurred. Alcohol could be smelled on his breath, said assistant Crown attorney Simran Patawari on Tuesday. The officer offered to drive Lesasge home, but the Garden River resident declined the offer and drove a side-by-side vehicle. Lesage gave truncated breath sample