OPP AIRCRAFT ASSISTS IN SUSPECT APPREHENSION PURSUIT

(NORTHUMBERLAND, ON) This afternoon, at approximately 12:00 pm, officers from the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were working with members of the OPP Aviation Services who were conducting aerial enforcement along Highway 401 west of Port Hope, Ontario. Initially, a motor vehicle was observed travelling at a high rate of speed by officers in the aircraft near Cranberry Road at Welcome and this information was provided to OPP units on the ground. Uniformed officers attempted to stop this speeding motor vehicle, but it would not pull over.

A Suspect Apprehension Pursuit (SAP) was initiated, but as the speeding motor vehicle continued to accelerate eastbound along Highway 401, the SAP was terminated. The speeding motor vehicle exited at County Road 45 in Hamilton Township and continued northbound onto a dead end road in the Northumberland County Forest. Although the SAP was not continued by OPP ground units, the speeding motor vehicle was closely being watched by the OPP officers in the airplane from above. Once in the wooded area, three persons were observed running from the motor vehicle and the airplane was able to provide vital information to the ground officers as to where they were heading towards, and as a result, two persons were quickly apprehended.

Responding officers set up containment in the area and were assisted by members of the Central Region Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Canine Unit (K9) who commenced a ground search. The aircraft remained in the area and a short time later, a third person was taken into custody.

This investigation is continuing and further information will be released as it becomes available.

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