London man arrested after police recover stolen vehicle

London Police vehicle in London, Ont., Sunday, April 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

London police have charged a London man after an officer saw a reported stolen vehicle late last week.

The officer was operating a marked police cruiser southbound on White Oak Road at 5:15 a.m., on Friday, when he saw a commercial van that matched the description of a recently stolen vehicle from outside of the city.

The officer confirmed that the vehicle was reported stolen, and police made attempts to stop it.

Police say the suspect stopped the van abruptly on Wharncliffe Road South and reversed, ultimately hitting the police cruiser that was directly behind the stolen vehicle.

The suspect continued driving northbound, mounting the curb and driving onto the sidewalk on Wharncliffe Road South, where the van struck a traffic control box at the north-east corner of Legendary Drive.

Police say the driver fled southbound on Wharncliffe Road at a high rate of speed, driving into oncoming traffic.

For safety reasons, police disengaged from the vehicle.

At 5:40 a.m., officers found the abandoned stolen vehicle on Westminster Drive. With the help of an LPS Police Service Dog (PSD), they searched the area and eventually found the suspect in a tree.

As a result of the investigation, a 43-year-old London man has been charged with the following offences:

• Dangerous operation of a conveyance;
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000;
• Fail to stop for police/pursuit;
• Operation while prohibited; and
• Possession of break in instruments.

The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in London court on Jan. 6, in relation to the charges.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call the London Police Service at [phone] or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Information can also be sent in online anonymously to London Middlesex Crime Stoppers.