Timmins police charge 2 after series of theft, assault, dangerous driving incidents

An undated file photo of a Timmins Police Service vehicle. (Supplied/Timmins Police Service)

Timmins police have charged two people following a series of interconnected incidents this month, including an alleged assault on an employee, a collision with police cruisers and multiple driving and property crime charges.

Unfortunate series of events

The Timmins Police Service said the investigation began on Jan. 8, regarding a suspicious vehicle in the area of Pine Street North.

“Officers were investigating a suspicious vehicle when the driver fled police,” police said in a news release.

Police said the driver was charged with several offences from that encounter and was subsequently wanted.

The following day, police said the same vehicle was involved in a theft from a commercial business on Laforest Road.

“During this incident, an employee who confronted the suspect to recover stolen property was assaulted,” said police.

Collision with cruisers

Police located the wanted suspect later on Jan. 9 and attempted a traffic stop.

“During this encounter, the suspect used the vehicle to strike two marked police cruisers in an effort to flee and was able to escape at that time,” said police.

The investigation culminated on Jan. 22, when officers located the vehicle again and successfully took the suspect into custody.

Staff Sgt. Camille Camirand stressed the importance of public and police safety in these types of operations.

“While these incidents posed significant risk, our officers acted with professionalism and restraint to bring this situation to a safe resolution,” added Camirand.

Multiple charges laid

As a result, the driver, a 44-year-old local man, faces a lengthy list of criminal charges. These include three counts of assaulting a peace officer, obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, flight from police, assault, theft, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of break-in instruments and mischief.

He was also charged with 11 Highway Traffic Act offences, including impaired driving, two counts of dangerous driving, careless driving, driving without a licence, failing to wear a seat belt, two counts of disobeying a stop sign and failing to stop after an accident.

A passenger in the vehicle, a 39-year-old woman, was also taken into custody. She faces charges of theft along with 11 counts of shoplifting and 11 counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

Both accused were held in custody pending a bail hearing on Friday.