Man charged following vehicle fire, alleged theft of loader in Ramara Township

A man is facing numerous charges after what police describe as an “eventful evening” in Ramara Township.

According to the OPP, officers were notified of a vehicle on fire in the ditch on Concession Road D-E around 1:30 on Feb. 11.

“Upon arrival, officers found a fully engulfed pickup truck with no license plates. Ramara Fire Services attended to the vehicle, extinguished the fire and no one was located in or around the collision,” reads a media release.

“The driver eventually returned to the scene and officers were given cause to begin an impaired driving investigation. The driver was subsequently arrested and as the investigation progressed, a loader was located on its side in the ditch a short distance away. It was determined that the driver had stolen the loader from a nearby quarry, in order to attempt to pull his truck out of the ditch.”

Jason Paugh, 21, of Ramara has been charged with operation while impaired – alcohol; operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus); theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle; break, enter a place – with intent to commit an indictable offence; dangerous operation; operate motor vehicle without insurance; and fail to remain.

He is also facing several other Highway Traffic Act violations, police noted.

Paugh was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Orillia court on March 30.

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