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Date: February 8, 2022 |
On February 8, 2022, at approximately 2:50 AM, a member of the Sarnia Police Service Community Patrol Branch was in the area of Wellington Street and Brock Street and observed a motor vehicle travelling eastbound on Wellington Street missing a front licence plate.
The officer turned the cruiser around to follow the vehicle and conduct a stop to verify the status of the missing plate. The officer activated the cruiser’s emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle but the suspect vehicle failed to stop for the officer and proceeded to head south bound on Mitton Street. The vehicle continued to fail to stop for police and began to accelerate away from the officer as the officer maintained a safe following distance. The suspect was running red lights and driving in a dangerous manner attempting to evade police at which point the officer stopped following to avoid further escalation.
Other officers began searching for the suspect vehicle and were able to locate it in the area of London Road and Indian Road. Officers followed the vehicle from a distance and were also able to deploy a tire deflation device in the area of Lakeshore Road and Blackwell Side Road which the suspect vehicle did run over.
When the officers located the vehicle it was parked in the 1900 block of Blackwell Road and the driver was not present.
OPP canine was contacted to assist in locating the driver. Thanks to the OPP dog track and the officers involved in the search the suspect was located in a garage on the 1900 block of Lakeshore Road. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The suspect in this matter was identified as James Richard St. Jean, 26 years of age, of Windsor, who faces the following charges:
- Operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited under the Criminal Code
- Flight from a peace officer
- Dangerous operation
- Break and enter
- Trespass by night
- Breach of recognizance
The accused remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
Constable Giovanni Sottosanti
Media Officer
Tel: 519-344-8861 Ext 6168
Email: 168@police.sarnia.on.ca