As a result of an ongoing investigation by officers with the Prince Edward OPP Crime Unit, several more charges have been laid in connection to an Ameliasburgh man who allegedly administered a noxious substance to unknowing female victims.

On Oct. 18 as a result of investigation, search warrants were obtained and evidence was seized relating to the occurrence including computers and cellphones.

Thomas McDowell, a 64-year-old man residing in Ameliasburgh, was arrested and charged with:

• Criminal Code of Canada (CCC) section 246(b) – overcome resistance by administering or attempting to administer a drug
• CCC section 245(a) – administer noxious thing with intent – endanger life or cause bodily harm
• Controlled Drugs and Substance Act (CDSA) – traffic in Schedule IV substance

On Feb. 4, 2019 after a second victim came forward, police have charged McDowell with additional counts of:

• Sexual assault
• Overcoming resistance
• Administering a noxious thing with intent
• Criminal harassment
• Trafficking a controlled substance
• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking

Police are still continuing with their investigation and are asking that anyone with information regarding this incident or if anyone had witnessed any unusual to contact the OPP Provincial Communications Center at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222- 8477(TIPS).

In other OPP news:

– Officers from the Prince Edward detachment attended to a vehicle that went into the ditch just before midnight on Feb. 5 on Hwy 62 near Mountainview.

Once on scene officers arrested a 21-year-old Quinte West  man with operation of a vehicle while impaired by  alcohol and drugs.

On further investigation over 40 oxycodone were seized and a charge of possession of a Schedule 1 substance was also laid.

The man was released on a promise to appear in Picton court on March 6, 2019 to answer to the charges.  His vehicle was also impounded and his licence suspended.

– Officers from the Prince Edward detachment were conducting stationary radar this past weekend on Hwy 62 in Ameliasburgh ward.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2019, officers viewed a vehicle approaching them at a high rate of speed. The vehicle registered a speed of 136 km per hour in a posted 80 km zone.

The officers stopped the vehicle on Hwy 62 and charged the driver, a 59-year-old man from Athol with stunt driving and seized and suspended his drivers licence for seven days.

The motorists vehicle was impounded for seven days.

The male will appear in Picton’s provincial offences court on March 15, 2019 to answer the charge.