Multiple women report being drugged while downtown, Sudbury, Ont., police say
Multiple women reported being drugged Saturday while visiting establishments in downtown Sudbury, city police said Wednesday.
"This past weekend, our service became aware that a number of female individuals in our community had ended up at Health Sciences North with signs and symptoms consistent of drugging," Det. Staff Sgt. Barry Ornella told CTV News.
"They were out at licensed establishments in our downtown, so this obviously led to our concern that there may be other individuals in the community who fell victim."
"At this point we are aware of three women who have come forward to police to share their experience," Ornella added.
"However, we have good reason to believe that there are others who have not yet reported. It's important that anyone who feels that they may have fallen victim to a drugging to attend the hospital and they have the capability to determine what substances may be in their system."
While the investigation continues to determine where the victims were drugged, police said it was important to alert the public.
"Symptoms can advance very quickly to a point where they’re not able to effectively communicate, they lose consciousness and they end up in a poor state very quickly," he said.
"So it's important to let other individuals know.”
A spokesperson for the downtown business association said the news is troubling on many levels.
"It’s extremely disturbing and it's very frustrating to hear, you know?" said Robbie Jones, Downtown Sudbury BIA co-chair.
"It's just very, very frustrating because we want this downtown to be a safe place and when you hear of these types of incidents happening, it really kind of ruins the vibe of what we’re trying to create. And it's scary."
In addition to the danger to the victims, Jones said this is another blow to the downtown already struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We’re trying really hard to attract people back to our beautiful downtown and we know that foot traffic helps make everything actually much safer," he said.
"Then when these incidents happen, it definitely does deter us from what we’re trying to do and we take it super seriously. We’re very upset about this and we’re actively working on solutions."
Common symptoms associated with being drugged include:
• Feeling or acting drunk despite having limited alcohol
• Feeling confused or disoriented
• Losing consciousness
• Being unable to remember details of the night
• Problems talking and slurred speech
• Trouble controlling your muscles
• Nausea and vomiting
Anyone who may have been drugged around the same time or who has information that could help the investigation is asked to report it by calling 705-675-9171, or through Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
"Your personal safety and the safety of our community is of the utmost importance," police said.
"If you are going out, always go with someone you know and trust. Never leave your drink unattended. If you do, buy another drink. If you begin to experience symptoms associated (with) being drugged, tell a friend and leave the establishment. If your symptoms require medical attention, attend the hospital and please report the incident to police."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge fines Trump US$1,000 for contempt, threatens jail time if fines aren't working
A judge has fined former U.S. president Donald Trump $1,000 for contempt, threatening jail time if he violates a gag order again, saying fines aren't working.
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
AI tools can offer recommendations, answer questions and 'talk' with users. But some users are using them to recreate the likeness of the dead.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
WestJet, mechanics union agree to tentative deal to avoid strike
A potential strike between WestJet and its mechanics union appears to have been avoided.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.