A suspect wanted for a string of break-and-enters has been arrested following a dramatic police chase in Chatham-Kent that ended with officers deploying a spike belt.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service said on Thursday at around 1:45 p.m., an officer on general patrol spotted a vehicle towing a U-Haul trailer in Chatham, which was associated with multiple break-and-enter investigations.
The officer coordinated with other nearby officers and followed the vehicle after it exited a gas bar on Richmond Street and drove along various streets north of the Thames River
At one point, the officer lost sight of the vehicle a moment before it was located again, travelling south on Keil Drive without the attached trailer.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle on Queens Line but the driver tried to flee by accelerating and overtaking other vehicles. The driver also released a detachable hard top from the vehicle, which flew back and smashed on the roadway in front of police cruisers.
Authorities were able to deploy a spike belt and stop the vehicle on Queens Line and officers arrested a man and a woman without further incident or injury.
Following a search of the vehicle and the two suspects, police seized property connected to break-and-enters reported on May 28 in Tilbury, on July 15 in Peterborough, and on July 17 in Chatham. Police also confirmed the vehicle and license plates were stolen from a business in Kingsville.
The U-Haul was also located and is being investigated.
Police later confirmed the man and woman were bound by release orders not to associate with each other. The man was also wanted on outstanding warrants for break-and-enter and mischief charges related to several break-and-enter investigations in Chatham-Kent.
As a result, a 32-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman from Windsor are both charged with mischief endangering life, failing to comply with release conditions, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and multiple counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000. The man is additionally charged with dangerous driving and flight from police.
Both have been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
