On Friday, August 7, 2020 shortly around 8:00 am Port Hope Police were dispatched to the Pochon Avenue/Peacock Blvd area for a suspicious vehicle call.
As Police Officers were entering into the neighbor the vehicle was observed and immediately sped off at a high rate of speed. Police directed the vehicle to stop and the driver ignored and continued to flee south on Hamilton and east on Peter Street at speeds of up to 130 kph.
As Police pursued the vehicle on Peter Street the driver slammed on the breaks in an attempt to cause a collision.
The vehicle turned south on to Mill Street and skidded approximately 70 metres coming to a stop by the boat launch just short of the river. Two persons, one which was the driver, were taken into custody by the lone officer.
The third male fled on foot east along the beach.
Ashley Haynes was getting ready to go out onto Lake Ontario with her stand-up paddle board when she witnessed the action.
“I heard the sirens and it sounded like cars coming really fast and before you knew it I just heard the crash through the barrier.”
Haynes witnessed the officer take two suspects into custody, but the third suspect ran right by her within five metres.
“I didn’t realize what was happening – and it all happened so fast.”
Officers set up a perimeter with assistance of Northumberland OPP, Cobourg Police Service and CN Police.
The Port Hope Fire Department launched a small boat from the boat launch and searched east along the shoreline for the suspect.
OPP Emergency Response Team members along with a canine unit searched for five kilometres along the lakeshore but could not locate the suspect and the search was called off around noon.
The vehicle was noted to be on file as stolen from the Waterloo area with stolen license plates.
Police are continuing the investigation with charges pending in regards to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, fail to stop for police and possession of stolen property.
Officers patrolled the area believing the suspect may still have been in the area.
At 5:10 p.m. a citizen called police reporting a male matching the description of the outstanding suspect was walking down Hope Street. Officers were dispatched to the area and confirmed this person to be the outstanding male from earlier and took him into custody.
Port Hope Police haven’t said if all three individuals are facing charges.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
