North Bay man charged with fleeing police in GTA

A 21-year-old from North Bay who was on probation has been charged with weapons offences and with fleeing police in York Region.

York Regional Police have released video of a chase that ended with charges for a 21-year-old man from North Bay who was free on bail at the time of the incidents.

He is charged not only with fleeing police on two separate occasions in the Town of Georgina, but with firearms-related offences after police seized a handgun and ammunition.

In the first instance July 10, police saw a red Nissan Qashqai travelling at a high rate of speed in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Riverglen Drive.

“The vehicle was heading in the opposite direction,” York police said in a news release Monday.

“When officers turned around in an effort to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled at high speed.”

Then on July 17, the same vehicle was spotted in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Boyers Road.

“Officers recognized the driver as the same individual from the July 10 incident,” police said.

Ran red lights

“The York Regional Police Air Support Unit was engaged and took over observation of the vehicle, which continued to flee southbound on Highway 404, exiting at Highway 7, in the City of Richmond Hill.”

After running “multiple red lights,” the vehicle was seen driving in the wrong direction on the road.

“Despite officers deploying a tire deflation device, the vehicle continued travelling on all four rims into the Town of Aurora,” police said.

“In the interest of public safety, officers made intentional contact to stop the vehicle and the driver was taken into custody without injury. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle, resulting in the seizure of a loaded handgun and ammunition.”

The North Bay suspect has been charged with two counts each of fleeing police and dangerous driving, three counts of failing to comply with an undertaking and one count each of drugged driving, unauthorized possession of a vehicle, along with several firearms offences.

“At the time of these offences, the accused was bound by conditions stemming from unrelated charges and was currently out on bail,” police said.

Police released a video of the chase.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the York Regional Police Regional 3 District criminal investigations bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7341.

Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online.