On January 28, 2026, at approximately 12:50am, officers were on patrol and observed a vehicle stopped with the brake lights on and the engine running on Government Rd. Officers located a 39year-old female asleep in the driver’s seat. Officers woke the female and observed signs consistent with impairment and administered Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. As a result, the driver was arrested for impaired driving.
The driver was subsequently evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), and a bodily sample was obtained. A search of the vehicle, conducted incident to arrest, resulted in the seizure of the following:
- Approximately 70 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- A few hundred dime baggies
The driver was released from custody pending further investigation. Officers are exploring charges of Impaired Driving and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.
Update to January 19, 2026 media release.
On January 11th at approximately 1530 hrs, officers with the Nelson Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of 398 Baker Street, Nelson BC, as part of ongoing impaired-driving enforcement within the community. During the interaction, officers observed signs consistent with impairment. The 29-year-old male driver was arrested for impaired driving and held pending an evaluation by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).
Following the arrest, officers conducted a search of the vehicle. The following quantities of suspected controlled substances and currency were located and seized:
- 583 grams of suspected cocaine
- 46 grams of suspected methamphetamine
- 53 pills of suspected Xanax
- 60 doses of suspected Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
- 5 grams of suspected fentanyl
- Over $4000 in Canadian currency
Based on the evidence recovered, the male was chartered and warned for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
The male was transported to the Nelson Police Department, where he was evaluated by the department’s newest Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). At the conclusion of the evaluation, the DRE determined that the male’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by a drug. A bodily sample was subsequently obtained pursuant to the investigation.
These investigations reflect the professionalism of our officers and their effective use of specialized training. Their actions helped remove impaired drivers from our roads and prevented a significant quantity of dangerous drugs from reaching the community, directly contributing to public safety,” said Inspector Jason Jewkes.