Hairy situation: OPP find raccoon in vehicle of suspected impaired driver

Talk about things getting a little hairy on the police beat.

While officers may be used to arresting "masked bandits," police in central Ontario discovered an interesting masked passenger in a vehicle they encountered: a baby raccoon.

OPP in Huntsville were alerted this morning at around 8:10 a.m. to a suspected impaired driver "who was in possession of a raccoon" by members of the public, the OPP said in a news release.

The vehicle was in a parking lot and upon arrival, officers arrested and charged the driver for impaired operation and, sure enough, found the little creature in the vehicle.

A photo posted on Twitter showed the wide-eyed critter sitting quietly, apparently uninjured after the adventure.

Comments under the Tweet included, "So cute! Seems like this cutie was driving way too fast lol."

"It is unclear why the driver was in possession of the raccoon," police said in the release.

Police said a 39-year-old male from South River has been charged with:

• Operation while impaired
• Breach of conditions - two counts
• Cannabis readily available

There was no indication if the driver also faces charges related to giving the raccoon a possibly unwanted ride-along (transporting wildlife without a permit).

"Thank you to the public for reporting this driver to police!" police added.

Police said the raccoon was rescued and is on its way to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

The accused, on the other hand, was being held for a bail hearing.