Police find body after high speed chase

Rat Portage, Ont. – Police are investigating a suspicious death following a high speed chase near this First Nations community Tuesday.

Officials with the Kenora detachment of the OPP say police received a call about a suspicious vehicle leaving Wauzhushk Onigum First Nations, also known as Rat Portage, just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but instead of co-operating the driver proceeded to Highway 17A. That began a brief high speed chase.

Minutes later the vehicle came to a stop at the junction of Highway 17A and Highway 596.

Police say the body of a man was located on the highway, but the identity is unknown at this time.

A young man who was operating the vehicle was arrested on the scene and transported to the Kenora detachment.

The youth faces the following charges:
·         Impaired Operation of a Vehicle Cause Death-Alcohol
·         Exceed 80 Milligrams of Blood Alcohol Content-Cause Accident with Fatality
·         Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death
·         Flight Causing Bodily Harm while Pursued by Peace Officer
·         Driving while Disqualified- court order
·         Fail to Comply with Sentence X 2 contrary to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)

The youth has been held in custody to attend court on Sept. 17, 2015 at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Kenora.

The investigation is continuing under the direction of Detective Inspector Peter Donnelly of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).
The post mortem will be conducted on Friday, September 4, 2015.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call D/Sgt Jeff Duggan at the Kenora OPP 1- 807-548-5534 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).