A Guelph male faces assault and driving charges after allegedly driving a stolen pickup into three police cruisers Monday afternoon.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. officers noticed a Dodge Ram pickup at the intersection of Macdonell Street and Wyndham Street North. The pickup had been reported stolen last week from a residential driveway in Guelph.
When officers tried to stop the pickup the driver accelerated along Macdonell Street, eventually ending up on Carden Street in front of City Hall where the driver was met with a marked Guelph police cruiser coming toward him. The driver reversed, striking another cruiser, then drove forward hitting a cruiser and partially pushing it off the road. A third cruiser was also struck before officers finally got the vehicle pinned in.
When the male refused to get out of the vehicle and was seen reaching down into the footwell area, an officer broke the driver’s side window and was able to pull the driver from the vehicle. The male sustained a small cut to his cheek as a result and was transported to Guelph General Hospital for medical treatment. No officers were injured.
While at the hospital the male was showing signs of impairment including slurred speech and an inability to stay awake. Officers determined he was impaired by a drug.
During a search of the pickup police discovered items stolen during the theft of another pickup just outside Guelph which is currently under investigation by the OPP. Officers also recovered a can of pepper spray from the male’s belongings, as well as various items from a business on Silvercreek Parkway North which still had their tags attached.
A 37-year-old Guelph male is charged with flight from police, dangerous operation, assault with a weapon, possessing stolen property over $5,000, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing stolen property under $5,000, driving while disqualified x3, impaired operation and breaching probation.
He was held for a bail hearing Tuesday.
