A stolen vehicle drove through construction signs, over a sidewalk, across a grassy boulevard and over a roadway median in an effort to avoid officers yesterday.
On Monday, September 3, 2018 at approximately 9:30 a.m., officers patrolling north Ajax observed a white pickup truck make an illegal turn from Brock Road onto Highway 7. As they followed the vehicle eastbound on Highway 7, they determined it had been reported stolen. They followed the pickup from a safe distance and called upon other units to assist with a rolling stop.
After activating their overhead lights and attempting to box the vehicle in on Baldwin Street south of Highway 407 in north Whitby, the vehicle drove off the roadway and sped away. The vehicle then drove through two construction traffic signs on the gravel shoulder on Baldwin Street, which damaged the windshield and resulted in a blown back tire. The pickup then continued southbound to Taunton Road, where it turned westbound and struck a responding police cruiser. The pickup then drove over the roadway median and entered the parking lot of a plaza, where it was boxed in. The driver was arrested and later, provided a false identity to officers.
There were no injuries as a result of this brief pursuit and only minor damage to a police cruiser.
Rolland Junior BEAUCHAMP, age 44, of No Fixed Address is charged with: Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle; Fail to Stop for Police; Fail to Comply with Probation; Possess Property Obtained by Crime over $5000; and Personation to Avoid Arrest/Prosecution/Obstruct. He was held for a bail hearing.
Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact Cst. Smith of West Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2521.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.