Ontario Provincial Police have taken a man into custody following an investigation involving a stolen vehicle and his failure to stop for police. OPP said officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle observed travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 17 near Schreiber at about 9:15 p.m. on Oct. 20. “The vehicle failed to stop and fled eastbound,” OPP said in a news release Wednesday. Vehicle located and confirmed stolen OPP said officers later located the suspect vehicle and successfully deployed “a tire deflation device.” A section of Highway 17 in Marathon was briefly closed while officers conducted the vehicle stop. “The vehicle was subsequently located abandoned off Highway 17 near Old Heron Bay Road and was confirmed stolen,” OPP said. Police said as the investigation continued, several OPP resources were deployed – including the canine unit and a remotely piloted aircraft system (a drone). Members of the public were advised to avoid picking up hitchhikers and report any suspicious activity in the area. Suspect located and charged Shortly before 9 a.m. on Oct. 21, the suspect was located and taken into custody without incident by OPP. As a result of the investigation, a 27-year-old man from Pickering has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, three counts of operation while prohibited, flight from a peace officer, drug trafficking, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime and four counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order. The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
