HUNTSVILLE — An Alberta man is now facing several criminal charges after a R.I.D.E. program in the Town of Huntsville.

On Thursday April 12, members of the Huntsville OPP were conducting R.I.D.E. program on Highway 60 at Grandview Drive in Huntsville.

Officers stopped a white van and an initial investigation lead to the seizure of a bag of marijuana. It was also determined that the driver had been drinking. As a result of the entire investigation, a 36-year-old man from Peace River, Alberta was arrested and charged with several offences, including drive while ability impaired, drive while having more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliltres of blood, possession of a schedule II drug, marijuana, under 30 grams, drive a motor vehicle with liquor readily available, three counts of drive while suspended and drive while child passenger not properly secured.

The accused was driving with his family, including his spouse and seven children who were between the ages of 11 months and eight years old. His licence has been suspended for a period of 90 days and his vehicle impounded for seven days. He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Huntsville on May 16 to answer to his charges.