Toronto woman charged with assault of OPP officer in Clarence-Rockland

A 39-year-old Toronto woman was to appear in court on Friday to face multiple charges, including assault of an Ontario Provincial Police officer, related to an incident in Clarence-Rockland a day earlier.

According to an OPP news release, officers from the Russell County detachment responded to a report of an unwanted person on a property in Clarence-Rockland just before 12 noon on Oct. 15.

The release said the complainant reported that an unknown woman appeared to be consuming alcohol and had driven onto the property multiple times.

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Officers located the suspect vehicle, but its driver reversed her vehicle into a police cruiser before driving away, injuring one, who was transported to hospital for assessment and treatment.

The vehicle was subsequently located by Hawkesbury detachment OPP officers in Alfred-Plantagenet Township. The driver was arrested, but allegedly refused to provide a breath sample for an alcohol screening device.

Samantha Lawlor of Toronto was charged with: assault of a peace officer with a weapon; dangerous operation of a vehicle; flight from a peace officer; failure or refusal to comply with a demand; and resisting a peace officer.

She was held in custody pending the Oct. 16 court appearance in L’Orignal.

The investigation remained ongoing, police said. Anyone with information about it was asked to contact the Russell County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Anonymous tips can be given to Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.