THUNDER BAY — A city police officer narrowly escaped injury on Sunday when a motorist stopped at a RIDE checkpoint sped away at high speed.
The Thunder Bay Police Service said the incident occurred shortly before 1 a.m. in a south side neighbourhood.
As officers were interacting with the driver, he stepped on the gas and proceeded through a residential area at what police described as "an extreme and dangerous speed."
Out of concern for public safety, a pursuit was not initiated, but police were able to identify the driver through further investigation.
The vehicle was located and impounded, and warrants were issued for a 42-year-old man on charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and failing to provide a breath sample.
Over a two-day period between Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, three other individuals were charged with various offences after being stopped at RIDE checkpoints in different areas of Thunder Bay.
In one incident Friday night, officers seized a variety of drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, hydromorphone and oxycodone, and charged a 20-year-old British Columbia woman with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
In another incident Friday, a 44-year-old man who refused to provide a breath sample was also charged with breaching a release order.
