A 33-year-old man is facing 60 charges after several “violent carjackings” were reported in Whitby, police say.
Durham Regional Police said on April 10, at around 11:40 p.m., officers were patrolling the Consumers Drive and Garden Street area when a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Brampton was located.
According to police, the vehicle was reported stolen in a carjacking.
Police said officers attempted to block the vehicle in, but the suspect allegedly rammed two cruisers in an attempt to evade them.
“The suspect vehicle pinned one of the officers exiting their vehicle before fleeing,” police allege in a news release. “A short pursuit was initiated, but quickly discontinued out of concerns for public safety.”
Officers said the vehicle was later found to be abandoned in the Stellar Drive and Thickson Road area.
On April 11, at around 12:15 a.m., police received a report of a carjacking in the Lowder Place and Bellwood Drive area of Whitby.
Police said the suspect allegedly approached a couple who were returning home, brandished a knife and stole their vehicle.
“When the victims attempted to intervene, the suspect rammed the vehicle into their residence and other vehicles,” the news release read.
Officers said investigators believe the same suspect is responsible for both incidents.
Police said the suspect and vehicle were located in the Athol Street and Clemence Avenue area.
According to police, the suspect allegedly drove head-on at an officer, ramming their cruiser.
Police said the officer was not injured.
Officers pursued the vehicle, but it was called off due to the alleged dangerous driving of the suspect.
According to police, the suspect fled westbound on Highway 401.
“The officer from the initial offence suffered serious non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collision,” police said. “No other physical injuries were reported.”
Durham police said a warrant was issued for the suspect – a 33-year-old man.
On Thursday, the province’s police watchdog – The Special Investigation’s Unit (SIU) – said a crash occurred involving a man in a stolen vehicle at Neilson Road and Finch Avenue in Toronto.
The man had fled the area on foot. The SIU said officers from Durham, Toronto and York regions searched for the driver.
He then allegedly stole a Purolator truck and stopped in the Brimley and Ellesmere road areas and attempted to flee again, the SIU said.
That’s when an officer used a stun gun, more commonly known as a taser, on the man.
A 33-year-old man was arrested but also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Durham police said the man, of no fixed address, has been charged with 36 offences including aggravated assault on a peace officer, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerous operation causing bodily harm and violence or threat of violence in connection with the incidents on April 10 and 11.
Police said he is facing an additional 27 charges including dangerous operation causing bodily harm, theft of a motor vehicle and flight from police in connection with the incident on Thursday.
Officers said the man’s name is not being released due to the ongoing SIU investigation.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of Ontario police officers in incidents that cause serious injury, death or alleged sexual assault.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.