After a high speed chase with a stolen truck from Wallaceburg early Tuesday morning, the Chatham-Kent Police Service arrested two individuals.
Around 3:35 a.m. this morning, a CKPS officer observed a grey GMC Sierra truck travelling eastbound on Dufferin Avenue.
The truck was previously reported stolen earlier in the night from a residence on Gordon Street.
The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, however the driver fled and failed to stop.
The driver reached speeds of over double the legal limit while disobeying traffic signals.
On Baseline Road near Brick Road, police deployed a tire deflation device which was successful in slowly deflating the tires of the stolen truck.
The driver continued to operate the truck on the rims until finally being brought to a stop by two police cruisers.
The driver and his passenger immediately exited the truck and fled on foot.
The driver was arrested by officers following a short foot chase.
The passenger was taken into custody by K9 Arry.
He was transported to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for medical attention.
Total damage to the cruisers has been estimated at $2,000.
Through investigation, police learned that the driver was currently bound by a Probation Order with a condition not to associate with his passenger.
The passenger was also bound by a curfew and conditions not to associate with the driver.
The driver, an 18-year-old Munsee-Delaware First Nation man has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and failing to comply. He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
The passenger, a 16-year-old Chippewas of the Thames First Nation youth has been charged with theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by a crime over $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply. He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Deputy Chief Jeff Littlewood states, “I am extremely proud of the way our officers and dispatchers conducted themselves early this morning. The driver placed himself, his passenger, our officers and the community in a very dangerous situation. Because of our training and teamwork, we were able to resolve it quickly and efficiently.”
“Our work here is not done though. The community of Wallaceburg has been victimized over the past couple months as numerous trucks have been stolen. I would like to reassure everyone that we are taking these thefts very seriously and will continue to work with neighbouring police agencies to ascertain if there are any links or evidence to suggest that these two individuals are responsible for previous incidents.”
The Chatham-Kent Police Service urges anyone with information regarding any of the stolen vehicles from Wallaceburg to please call Constable Mark VanderGriendt at markvan@chatham-kent.ca or 519-436-6600 extension #293.
Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and may be eligible for a cash reward.
– CKPS Photo
