Youth arrested after allegedly threatening Uber driver with firearm in Whitby

A Durham Regional Police logo is shown in Bowmanville, Ont. on Tuesday Feb. 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives

A 17-year-old is facing more than a dozen charges after allegedly threatening an Uber driver with a gun in Whitby, Durham police say.

Police say that officers initiated a traffic stop near Brock and Chestnut streets at around 12:35 a.m. on Friday.

After the vehicle came to a stop, police say that a male opened the rear door and attempted to flee the scene. A subsequent investigation determined that the suspect had previously threatened the driver with a firearm and told them to flee from the police, investigators say.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered in the suspect’s possession and a firearm was found at the scene, police said in a press release Monday. Officers report taking the suspect into custody after a short foot chase.

The suspect was under a weapons/firearm prohibition and conditional supervision for several violent offences at the time of his arrest, investigators say.

The suspect has been charged with 15 offences, including two counts related to drug trafficking.

Their identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.