Durham police release dramatic footage of high-speed helicopter pursuit

By News Staff

Durham regional police have released footage from what they believe to be the second longest helicopter pursuit in Ontario history.

It started at around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 27 when a woman called 911 saying a man she knew was following her and trying to ram her vehicle in the area of Rossland Road West and Stevenson Road North in Oshawa.

A 911 dispatcher advised her to head towards Central West Division in Whitby. While en route, police spotted the suspect vehicle and he fled at high speed towards Highway 401.

In the interest of public safety police backed off their pursuit, but the force’s Air1 helicopter began tracking the vehicle as it entered the eastbound lanes of the 401 at speeds as high as 230 km/h.

“Air1 followed the vehicle for 154 km, as officers on the road kept a safe distance away,” Durham police said in a release. “The male travelled towards Peterborough, but then began to drive back towards Durham Region.”

The suspect’s high-speed evasion came to an abrupt end when police placed a tire deflation device on Ganaraksa Road, but he still managed to flee on foot into a nearby wooded area.

He wasn’t, however, able to evade the eye in the sky and the suspect was arrested shortly after running into the woods.

Police allege that the 47-year-old man tossed drugs into the brush, but the helicopter was able to direct police to the area of the evidence.

Police have chosen not to name the suspect due to the domestic nature of the incident.

He’s facing charges of drug possession (cocaine, heroin, MDMA) for the purpose of trafficking, race a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, as well as criminal harassment, among others.

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