Belleville man facing multiple charges after evading police throughout Kingston

A Belleville man is facing multiple charges after driving dangerously, in a stolen truck, throughout the city of Kingston last week.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jun. 30, 2021, Kingston Police observed a black truck at the intersection commit a driving offence while proceeding southbound on Division Street near Elliot Avenue. According to a report from police, an attempt was made to initiate a traffic stop however, the truck continued south on Division Street driving recklessly into the oncoming lane of traffic to evade police. Police were able to obtain a licence plate number and description of the driver before last observing the truck turn eastbound on Railway Street at a high rate of speed.

A short time later, at approximately 10:55 p.m., police said they observed the suspect vehicle in the area of the parking lot of Kingston Police headquarters. Police followed the truck out of the lot and attempted again to initiate a traffic stop using their emergency lights however, the vehicle once again fled from them travelling northbound on Division Street passing vehicles in the oncoming lanes of traffic. The suspect vehicle was observed travelling through a red light before turning westbound on John Counter Boulevard, according to the report.

The truck was observed shortly after on Hyperion Court and when police again activated their emergency lights in an attempt to stop him the accused drove off of the roadway through a grassy area and then travelled eastbound on John Counter Boulevard before failing to stop at another red light at the intersection of Division Street. According to police, attempts to pull the vehicle over were discontinued on each occasion due to the fact that the accused was driving dangerously and was posing a danger to the public’s safety.

At approximately 11:50 p.m. police again observed the suspect vehicle, this time in Kingston’s west end, travelling westbound on Bath Road. Police attempted to initiate yet another traffic stop however, the accused once again refused to pull over, according to the report. Police said the suspect sped down Bath Road and was observed driving at speeds of approximately double the maximum posted speed limit.

Shortly after midnight, at approximately 12:10 a.m., now Thursday, Jul. 1, police observed the vehicle in the area of Oakview Avenue and Taylor Kidd Boulevard. Police said the accused again fled, travelling west on Taylor Kidd Boulevard, and then failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of Strand Boulevard.

Police following the vehicle to the area of Lincoln Drive and Bayridge Drive where officers had set up a road block and deployed stop sticks in attempts to stop the dangerous driver. The accused avoided the roadblock, driving off of the roadway and onto a private lawn narrowly missing pedestrians who had been walking on a nearby sidewalk, according to the release.

The suspect vehicle then fled southbound on Bayridge Drive travelling approximately two times the maximum posted speed limit before turning westbound onto Front Road. Police followed the vehicle into the conservation area at the end of Front Road at which time the accused turned around and nearly struck two police cruisers, according to the release. Officers were able to deploy stop sticks and successfully disabled the vehicle’s tires. The accused then drove the vehicle into a curb in the area of Front Road and Len Birchall Way and proceeded to flee on foot.

Police established containment and the Kingston Police Canine Unit was requested to the scene to track the accused. Kingston Police Service Dog Dak, along with his handler Constable Jeff Dickson, began to track the accused and located him in a wooded area off of Len Birchall Way.

At approximately 1:45 a.m. the accused was arrested and taken into custody. The accused male was subsequently transported to police headquarters where he was held to attend a bail hearing at a later date. Further investigation revealed that the truck, which was used in the commission of the offence, had been stolen from the Gananoque area earlier that evening, police said.

A 44-year-old Belleville man was charged with seven counts of dangerous driving, seven counts of failing to stop for police, and three counts of failing to comply with a release order.