Northern Ont. suspects flee roadside check, drive BMW into a lake

Two men from Blind River have been charged with several offences following an incident that started at a roadside check by the Anishinabek Police Service on Sept. 16.

The incident took place in Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg, located northwest of White River, when a BMW entered the roadside check

“Officers identified the driver as being a suspended driver and also detected the odour of cannabis emanating from the vehicle,” Anishinabek Police Service said in a news release.

Drove into lake, swam to shore

“After being asked by officers to pull the vehicle over, the driver instead accelerated forward at a high rate of speed, continuing through the community, before entering White Lake and coming to rest underwater.”

The two men who had been in the vehicle were then spotted swimming across the lake towards White Lake Provincial Park, before finally returning to the beach.

“A high-risk arrest was conducted on the beach and both parties were taken into custody without incident,” police said.

A Glock 22 handgun was found at the scene, which was loaded with five hollow-point bullets and had an extended magazine.

It was also “equipped with a Glock switch (an illegal, aftermarket device attached to the rear of the slide that renders the gun into a fully automatic weapon),” police said.

Another incident in June

“Its serial number had been defaced.”

The 28-year-old driver has been charged with driving while suspended, numerous weapons-related offences, fleeing police, dangerous driving and obstructing police.

He was also charged with offences related to a June 16 incident in which he is accused of driving a side-by-side vehicle involved in a collision that left one person with serious injuries.

Charges for that incident include dangerous driving causing bodily harm and obstructing justice.

His passenger, a 21-year-old man also from Blind River, was also charged with numerous weapons offences, as well as obstructing police.

Both men were held for a bail hearing.