(BLUEWATER, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a resident of Perth County with 22 criminal charges following a series of alarming events that took place earlier this week.
It all started off in Listowel on the morning of January 24th when a sedan was stolen from a Victoria Avenue North property while it sat unoccupied warming up in the driveway. Later in the day, just after 5:00 p.m., a Huron County OPP officer spotted the stolen vehicle travelling on Airport Line. The officer attempted to stop the stolen vehicle however the driver failed to stop and immediately took off. Shortly after police located the stolen vehicle abandoned in a ditch on Tipperary Line.
After ditching the stolen sedan the accused fled to a nearby business and stole a pickup truck. Soon thereafter, the accused drove dangerously through an intersection and collided with a pickup truck injuring the driver. The accused then failed to remain at the scene of this crash and then fled to a nearby residence where he committed a break and enter. Once inside the home he stole a set of keys to a vehicle as well as the victim’s purse.
The accused then located the victim outside where he threatened the victim and stole a sport utility vehicle that was in the laneway. The accused then fled the scene in what was his third stolen vehicle of the day. Once again the accused didn’t get too far as he crashed into a stone fence and the vehicle became disabled.
At this point the accused took off on foot and fled into a bush lot. Police contained the scene and OPP Canine along with OPP West Region Emergency Response Team (ERT) members conducted a search of the area. Ultimately, the accused was located and arrested hiding out in a travel trailer located on Parr Line.
Benjamin POYNTON, 27 years of age from North Perth has been charged with the following offences:
- Fight From Police Officer
- Dangerous Operation – Two Counts
- Dangerous Operation Causing Bodily Harm
- Operation While Prohibited – Six Counts
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
- Theft Over $5,000 of a Motor Vehicle – Two Counts
- Robbery With Violence
- Break, Enter a Dwelling House – Commit Indictable Offence
- Break, Enter a Place – Commit Indictable Offence
- Failure to Stop After an Accident
- Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose
- Occupant of a Motor Vehicle Knowing There Was a Prohibited Weapon
- Failure to Comply with a Release Order – Two Counts
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
The accused remains in custody with a court date scheduled for January 27, 2022 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich.
Huron County OPP would like to remind property owners to always take necessary steps to prevent vehicle theft by simply securing your vehicle at all times. Wherever possible park in a well-lit area and never leave an ignition key in the vehicle. It is nice and inviting to get into a warm vehicle in the cold but it sure makes it easy for a thief if it’s left insecure and unattended.