Suspect Apprehension Pursuit Ends With Two Arrests – RICHARD and VOYTKO

(KENORA, ON) Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Highway Safety Division (HSD), assisted by the Kenora and Dryden Detachments of the OPP, have two people in custody following a suspect apprehension pursuit on March 31, 2016.

Just before 9:00 am on Thursday March 31, HSD members were on general patrol on Highway 17 East and observed an eastbound vehicle driving at a high rate of speed. The sport utility vehicle (SUV) matched the description of a suspect vehicle from a theft of fuel in Falcon Beach, Manitoba. Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop by activating their emergency lights. The vehicle failed to stop for police and a brief pursuit ensued eastbound on Highway 17.

At that point, officers discontinued the pursuit due to public safety and set up to intercept the vehicle using a spike belt. Around 9:40 am, police located the vehicle on a side road east of Kenora and again tried to stop it. The vehicle fled again onto Highway 17, heading east. Police did not pursue the vehicle due to public safety. The vehicle approached the intercept point where police were set up and left the roadway to evade the spike belt. It continued east on highway 17 and near Triangle Lake again left the roadway and came to a stop in the ditch shortly after 10:00 am. A male and female ran on foot from the vehicle but were located and arrested shortly after. It was determined the vehicle was stolen from Saskatchewan on March 30, 2016 and was displaying stolen plates from Alberta. There were no injuries.

As a result of the investigation, 27 year old Alexander RICHARD of Timmins, Ontario and 23 year old Sharon VOYTKO of Lethbridge, Alberta are facing the following charges:

Alexander RICHARD is charged with:

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 section 354(1)(a) Criminal Code (CC)

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 s. 354(1)(a) CC

Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer s. 249.1(1) CC

Possession of Break in Instruments s. 351(1) CC

Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle s. 249(1)(a) CC

Sharon VOYTKO is charged with:

Fail to Comply with Recognizance s. 145(3) CC

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 section 354(1)(a) Criminal Code (CC)

Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 s. 354(1)(a) CC

They have both been held in custody pending a bail hearing on April 1, 2016.

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