The following is a media release issued by the Thunder Bay Police Service Monday afternoon
It all started on the 29th of February when officers got into a pursuit with a red Pontiac Sunfire.
The plate information was obtained by witnesses, but it turned out that it was a misuse of a plate. The chase had to be called off.
The following Thursday, another pursuit with another red Pontiac Sunfire, and again, another case of a misused plate. Both chases had been terminated in the interest of public safety when the very dangerous driving caused concern.
For the obvious reasons, all police officers began searching high and low across the City for this vehicle.
A car matching the description was spotted in the parking lot of a south-side apartment building on Friday the 4th of March. Serial numbers were checked, people were contacted and police then discovered the real owner of the suspect car. Further checks revealed this person is on parole for armed robbery and is also a suspended driver.
Police began to do surveillance.
When the vehicle was observed to arrive at a variety store on Saturday afternoon, the officers noticed that it had no plates attached. A stop was attempted by boxing in the car, but turned into another chase. There were two collisions before the pursuit was terminated for public safety.
However, one of the officers was able to see the male driver and his female passenger before the vehicle fled the scene.
Once again, officers began searching for the red Pontiac Sunfire.
It was located abandoned in a laneway behind Empire Ave, a short distance from the suspects last known address, and surveillance was again commenced.
The 27 year old male driver was taken into custody without incident as he left his residence shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday. His female passenger has also been identified and located.
He has been charged with Dangerous Driving, Flight from Police, Fail to Remain at a Collision X 2 - all criminal charges. He has been remanded in custody at the District Jail.
Investigation is continuing into the two collisions that happened, and numerous Highway Traffic Act charges are anticipated.
Police pursuits are a very highly regulated part of policing, for the obvious reasons. Public safety is always the first concern.
