Prohibited driver faces charges after fleeing OPP in Serpent River First Nation

An undated photo of an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser. (File image/Supplied/Bobb Barratt/Ontario Provincial Police)

A 37-year-old local man is facing multiple charges after Ontario Provincial Police he fled from officers in his vehicle while prohibited from driving.

At about 7:15 a.m. on May 15, OPP said officers responded to a traffic complaint involving “a possible impaired driver” on Village Road East in the Serpent River First Nation community.

“Prior to police arrival, the suspect vehicle had left the area,” the OPP said in a news release.

Police said the detachment later received an updated location from the complainant, indicating the vehicle had been observed on Sulfur Circle.

While en route, OPP said officers observed the vehicle travelling in the opposite direction on Walkhouse Bay Road.

Fleeing police

“When police activated their emergency lights, the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed,” OPP said.

Police said that a short time later, officers located the vehicle parked in a driveway on Rio Subdivision with the driver still behind the wheel.

“The driver was subsequently arrested,” said OPP.

Charges, penalties

As a result, the motorist was charged with operation while prohibited, driving while under suspension and for disobeying a stop sign.

In addition to the charges, the vehicle was towed and impounded for 45 days.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake on July 2.