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& - IEE 16- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 24, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Crash suspect faces criminal negligence charges From page 1 Police have charged Mr. Doerfler with failing to stop for police. That charge is commonly laid in police pursuits. "In light of my information, I won't be laying it," said OPP investigator Peter Niedermaier, adding that "there weren't the grounds" to lay the charge. "It's not a warranted charge." When asked the reasoning behind his decision, Const. Niedermaier explained that there are certain elements that must be met under the Highway Traffic Act for the charge to be laid. "There have to have been actions on the part of the police to have initiated a pursuit," he said. "Actions of the accused recognizing he's being pursued." Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons were southbound on Hwy. 12 in their 1986 Cadillac just after 1:30 a.m. when Mr. Doerfler's 1997 Ford Ranger ran a stoplight at the inter- section with Hwy. 7A in Manchester and slammed into the driver's side of the car. Mr. Gibbons died of his injuries at Port Perry hospital while his wife, who was asleep at the time of the accident, was treated for minor injuries and released. Mr. Doerfler sustained no injuries, police say. Police say the ordeal began after Mr. Doerfler's estranged wife, who was on her way home from a local casino with her parents and friends, noticed the David Doerfler is led away from an Oshawa court after an appearance last week. He's scheduled to make another appearance today. accused sitting in his truck at a local plaza. After dropping off her passengers, the woman went to an area gas station where she was confronted by Mr. Doerfler and then fled. eventually losing him, police say. She made her way to Port Perry's Community Police Office, where she used an after-hours phone to contact police and report a domestic dispute. En route to the station, two marked police cruisers noticed a truck matching the description they were given and fol- lowed it to Manchester, where the accident occurred. Durham's Sergeant Jim Grimley reported last week that the pursuit cov- ered approximately four kilometres in two minutes. Const. Niedermaier of Whitby OPP wouldn't comment on the speed of Mr. Doerfler's truck, but did confirm last Thursday that the vehicle was travelling "in excess of 100 km/h." The posted speed limit on that portion of Hwy. 7A in Manchester is 60 km/h. The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which investigates any serious injury or death involving police, is con- tinuing to work on the incident, and hope to have it wrapped up in 30 days. Gail Scala, a spokesperson for the SIU, said the investigation is going along smoothly. "It 1s continuing as we expected," she said yesterday afternoon. "The subject officers (those directly involved in the accident) have been interviewed and I'm optimistic the witness officer will be interviewed soon as well, if he hasn't already." OR fircarms now). twelve months. Possession licence Possession and acquisition licence (non-restricted rifles and shotguns) Registration (bulk) DO YOU OWN FIREARMS? What does the new Firearms Act mean for you? 1. As always, safety comes first. The firearms safety course and test, and the rules for storage, display and transportation, which are part of the current law, are now part of the Firearms Act. . Everyone will need a firearms licence in order to register firearms (your FAC is considered a licence). There are 2 types of licences (valid for 5 years): « possession (for the firearms you now own) » possession and acquisition (if you plan to obtain firearms, even if you own 3. Registration of all firearms begins December 1, 1998. All firearms must be registered by January I, 2003. You register your fircarms only once. You may do so at one bulk price (one price for any number of firearms you register all at the same time). 4. Fees for licences and registration are on a sliding scale. It's cheaper in the first $10 December 1998 -- November 1999 $60 from December 1998 onwards $10 December 1998 -- November 1999 5. You can get licence and registration forms at the post office, or by calling, toll-free, 1-800-731-4000. To find out more, call 1-800-731-4000 or visit our Web site at www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca FIREARMS SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S CONCERN Canadian Centre Firearms canadien des Centre armes a feu Kelly, Greenway, Bruce, Korb BARRISTER AND SOLICITORS Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Wills - Real Estate - Family Law Corporate & Commercial Evenings and Weekends by Appointment 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 - * DR. J. COTTRELL * DR. C. BANFIELD * DR. T. KING (Orthodontist) Please Call - 985-8451 While uncertain if any other interviews were held yet, she did say that any cus- tomers and employees at the two area donut shops, as well as any other wit- nesses, will be asked to co-operate with the SIU. The investigations unit also plans to talk with the accused, Ms Scala said. Security camera-tapes at the stores could also be used in the investigation, she added. She would also not comment on whether Mr. Doerfler was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. Ms Scala would not say if the marked cruisers had activated their emergency lights and sirens, nor would she say how far the cruisers were behind the truck or where they came from before they were "dispatched to the accident scene. Asked if Mr. Doerfler may not have known he was being pursued by police, Ms Scala noted that it is a possibility. "That is one aspect of our investigation we are looking at, but that information won't be released until the director makes her ruling." David Doerfler has also been charged by Durham Police with one count of crim- inal harassment in relation to the dispute at the gas bar; one count of possession of a controlled substance -- he was found with a vial of hash oil during a search at the Port Station, police said -- and one count of breach of probation. Women' s etiordng breakfast business services and knowledge. The guest spoukor will be Linda Lee. ' Call Marlene 986-5628 or Joan 434-8399. Dental Care Jor the whole family PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE 238 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY In * DR. J. HARDY * DR. L. GIDEON * DR. T. MCINTYRE (Periodontist) o% \ C * DR. L. GIDEON Please Cai 985-7952 ) Canadi Evening & Satay spoiatmonts Ridiatl picts) Sf ST., PORT PERRY We Love Cliildre ph Always Welcome