On a viciously cold night things might have gone even worse for an illegal driver, although he did end up in jail.
On Jan. 15, at approximately 12:30 a.m., a Ste Rose du Lac RCMP officer was on patrol on Highway 5 in the community when a motorist was seen changing a tire on the side of the road. Temperatures were ranging to -38C with the windchill, and the officer pulled over to assist.
Immediately, the officer noted there were no plates on the vehicle. When the officer questioned the male driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, he could not produce any registration or bills of sale. He did not have a licence to present either and provided a name the officer suspected was false.
When the officer approached the vehicle, open alcohol was seen. The male was verbally arrested for failing to have a licence and having open liquor. He was taken into custody for obstructing a peace officer by not providing his true identity.
A search of the vehicle found Canadian currency, several individual bags containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine, prescription drugs, and various gift cards. When the male was searched, police located a bag of a substance believed to be cocaine as well as empty baggies and multiple cell phones.
Once in cells, the male could not be fingerprinted due to injuries sustained while changing a tire in freezing temperatures. He did provide a name to officers, and Clint Nepinak, 28, from Dauphin, was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Nepinak was found to have three warrants out for his arrest for failure to comply x2 and failure to attend court. He is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking x2 and obstruct a peace officer. He also received an open liquor ticket.
He is remanded in custody.
