Early morning police chase leads to numerous charges

One man is facing more than a dozen charges after fleeing police in a stolen Ford F-150 Wednesday morning.

Police say it started just after 4 a.m. when officers spotted the vehicle at Idylwyld Drive and Connaught Place.

Support from the air traffic unit noticed the vehicle driving dangerously and erratically. The driver refused to stop and officers followed it out of the city.

That’s where Earl Miller had a close encounter with the truck. He had just finished dumping a load of gravel in the city and was heading back to his shop on Grasswood Road south of the Willows Golf Course.

“The truck came across the road into oncoming traffic, and damn near would have hit me head on.”

“I ended up swerving to get around him,” Miller said.

Police blew out the truck’s tires. Still, the driver kept fleeing after briefly stopping in a yard near Grasswood Road and Lorne Avenue.  The pursuit ended shortly before 5 a.m.

Two sawed-off shotguns, bear spray and a knife were recovered inside the vehicle.

The 41-year-old driver attempted to ram a police canine vehicle.

He faces a variety of charges, some of which include: assault with a weapon against a police officer, evade police and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.