(SOUTHWEST OXFORD TOWNSHIP, ON.) – Early in the morning on April 7, 2014 Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers received a report of theft of a pickup truck from a residence on Ostrander Road. The pickup truck was being towed away from the scene by another pickup truck.
At approximately 2:10 a.m., members of the Oxford Detachment located and attempted to stop the suspect vehicle which was being driven by one male suspect. The towed stolen pickup was being driven by a second male suspect. The male drivers of the pickup trucks continued eastbound at a high rate of speed. This caused the two pickup trucks to collided and separate the tow. The driver of the stolen pickup then jumped into the lead pickup truck, abandoned the stolen pickup and fled together. A pursuit was initiated by police and terminated a short time later.
The suspect pickup truck was located by police a short time later abandoned on a railway trail south of Cornell Road. Fresh tracks were located fleeing the area. OPP Canine Unit and members of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) were called in to assist with a ground search. The two male suspects were located by the OPP Canine Unit and ERT members hiding in a brush area, north of where the stolen vehicle was abandoned.
The males were arrested and are charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
Bryce VANLOON, 18 years old of Norfolk County
Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
Flight while being Pursued by Police Officer
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Trespassing at Night
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident
Amos ELLIOTT, 23 years old of Norfolk County
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Theft of Motor Vehicle
Trespassing at Night
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident
ELLIOTT also faces an additional charge of Possession of a Schedule II Substance – Cannabis Marijuana – contrary to The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
The two males remain in custody and are to appear in court for a bail hearing on April 9, 2014.
Any person with information regarding the person(s) responsible for this incident should immediately contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.