the OPP
Fort Frances OPP arrested and charged a youth with several criminal offences following a vehicle pursuit early Sunday morning.
Just before 4 a.m., officers on patrol observed a young person operating a motor vehicle without a seatbelt.
Police turned to follow the vehicle, and observed it fish-tailing and driving in an erratic manner.
Police activated the emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle but as police followed, the driver refused to stop—leading police through the east end of Fort Frances.
The vehicle proceeded through several intersections while failing to stop for traffic controls and driving dangerously.
A second police cruiser joined in to attempt to stop the vehicle.
The vehicle then drove into a dead-end road at Pither’s Point Park.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle from driving any further by parking their vehicles at the exit to the park.
But the driver turned around, drove towards officers at high speed, and rammed one of the police vehicles, causing minor damage to the cruiser.
One of the officers had to jump out of the way of the vehicle to avoid being struck as it drove directly towards him.
Police then identified that the driver had two passengers inside the vehicle.
The vehicle continued around the police, and into residential and business sections of Fort Frances.
Police followed until an opportunity to stop the vehicle presented itself.
The vehicle was met on Mowat Avenue by a police vehicle travelling in the opposite direction with its emergency lights activated. But the vehicle rammed the police vehicle and then continued north on Mowat.
The pursuit finally ended on Front Street as police partially disabled the vehicle by forcing it against a snowbank.
As officers tried to physically extract the occupants, the driver attempted to drive away—dragging two officers on the icy street.
An officer in another cruiser managed to stop the vehicle by pinning it against the snowbank. The occupants then exited the vehicle and tried to run away.
After a brief foot chase, the suspects were arrested without further incident.
The police officers were not seriously injured in the course of their duties.
A young person subsequently was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from a police officer, three counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, and two counts of mischief under $5,000
Investigation is continuing and further charges are possible.
One young person was in custody awaiting a date for a show case to be set.
