Winnipeg car dealership theft leads to high speed chase and 1 man in custody

WINNIPEG — A 21-year old man is in custody after leading Winnipeg police on a high speed chase late Tuesday night.

Around 11:30 p.m. officers spotted a vehicle without any plates around Main Street and Templeton Avenue. Police attempted to pull over the vehicle for a basic traffic stop, but the driver sped off.

The vehicle matched the description of a stolen vehicle from a car dealership.

“It’s alleged that he attended to a car dealership on Nairn earlier that day, had contact with a salesperson there,” Const. Jason Michalyshen told reporters on Wednesday.

“While arrangements were being made to test drive a particular vehicle, my understanding, he had access to keys and away he went.”

The stolen vehicle triggered a chase outside the city to Lockport. The driver sped through several red lights and had “no regard for public safety,” police said.

The Air1 chopper was then brought in to help with the pursuit.

As police were putting down a spike belt in the area of the Perimeter and Henderson Highway, the suspect slowed down and suddenly drove in officers’ direction.

“He intentionally drove a vehicle in the direction of two officers and narrowly missed them,” Michalyshen said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He intentionally drove a vehicle in the direction of two officers and narrowly missed them," Michalyshen said.

The suspect continued northbound toward Lockport, police said.

Once in Lockport, the suspect turned around and proceeded back to the city.

That’s when police put down another spike belt, at Main Street and the Perimeter Highway, which disabled two tires on the vehicle. The suspect continued southbound on Henderson Highway while driving in an “erratic manner,” police said.

Around 12:00 a.m., the pursuit ended at Talbot Avenue and Watt Street, when the 21-year-old was taken into custody without further incident.

No one was hurt in the pursuit.

Peter Giesbrecht of Steinbach faces numerous charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight while pursued by a peace officer, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and possession of a property obtained by crime.