THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay man who appeared to evade a RIDE check was later stopped by police and arrested on a number of drug-trafficking related offenses on Sunday morning.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers were conducting a RIDE program in the area of Ambrose and Court Streets around 2:30 am on Sunday, November 1, 2020, when they observed a red sedan being driven erratically.
Officers then observed the motorist drive away in an apparent attempt to elude the RIDE check. An officer followed the vehicle and eventually conducted a traffic stop in the area of Machar Avenue.
When police spoke to the motorist they observed several signs of impairment. Police then requested the driver participate in a roadside Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST).
As the officers were preparing for the SFST they learned the driver was wearing a bulletproof vest and was in possession of a quantity of suspected hydromorphone pills.
At this point, the driver fled from police on foot. After a brief foot pursuit officers located and arrested the male in the 100 block of Machar Avenue.
Following the arrest officers located a quantity of cocaine, crack cocaine, and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.
Tristen Lee SYLVESTER, 23, of Thunder Bay, is charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking x 2
• Possession of Hydromorphone for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Failure or Refusal to Comply with (SFST) demand
• Resist Peace Officer
• Failure to Comply with Judicial Release
• Breach of Probation
He appeared in court on Sunday, November 1, 2020 and was remanded into custody with a future appearance date. None of the charges have been proven in a court of law.