A London man faces more than a dozen charges after a stolen vehicle ran a stop sign and a red light before crashing into a police cruiser.
London police were called about an erratic driver in the area of Dundas and Rectory streets around 9:40 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle is alleged to have jumped a curb and ran a stop sign and a red light before continuing on. The caller told police it appeared the vehicle’s licence plate was made out of cardboard.
An attempt to stop the vehicle in the area of Queens Avenue and Elizabeth Street failed, police said. However, the vehicle soon collided with a police cruiser in the area of Jaqueline Street and Thompson Road, causing $60,000 damage.
The driver took off running but was quickly arrested by officers. Police alleged the man resisted arrest before being taken into custody. A quantity of drugs was also seized.
Police determined the vehicle had been reported stolen from an east London home on April 25.
A 38-year-old London man is charged with dangerous driving, resisting arrest, impaired driving, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, driving while prohibited, failure to stop for police, and possession of drugs. He was scheduled to appear in London court in relation to the charges on Monday.
Police Chief Steve Williams took to social media to commended the officers involved for their work in bringing the situation to an end without injury.
“This incident could have ended far worse were it not for the officers’ decisive and measured actions,” wrote Williams. “Great work by the involved officers in safely resolving this public safety threat. Thank you to the citizen who alerted us to this situation.”
