Man, 18, arrested after allegedly ramming police cruisers while fleeing home invasion

Four suspects wanted in connection with a home invasion in St. Catharines on March 13, 2026 are shown. (Niagara Regional Police Service)

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly rammed two police cruisers while attempting to flee the scene of a home invasion in St. Catharines last week.

Police say that five masked suspects armed with firearms arrived at an apartment near Lake Street and Welland Avenue just before 4 a.m. on March 13 in a vehicle that had been stolen from the City of Mississauga.

It is alleged that four of the suspects forced entry into the residence and stole personal possessions from an unspecified number of victims inside.

The fifth suspect, meanwhile, remained in the stolen vehicle during the home invasion and served as a getaway driver.

Police say that officers arrived on scene within minutes and intercepted the suspects as they attempted to flee.

“The suspect who remained in the stolen motor vehicle rammed two police cruisers, while the other suspects fled on foot. The suspect from the vehicle was arrested on scene,” a news release notes.

Police say neither the occupants of the residence nor any officers sustained any physical injuries in the incident.

The suspect taken into custody has been identified as 18-year-old Joshua Balkaran, of Elmira.

He has been charged with 18 offences, including four counts of robbery with a firearm and four counts of forcible confinement.

Police have released surveillance camera images of the four suspects who remain outstanding and are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.