Man in custody after chase, assault on nurse (9 photos)

City police have provided the following news release regarding last night's collision:

Yesterday afternoon city police received information to check on the well-being of a 32-year-old male.

At approximately 4:24 p.m. an officer from patrol services was travelling southbound on North Street when it is alleged that the male the officers were looking to locate backed his vehicle out of a driveway, deliberately ramming the police cruiser. 

The officer received minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. 

The cruiser was inoperable.

The male fled the scene and continued southbound on North Street towards the downtown area.

Other officers attended in the area to assist and locate the male. 

Police received several calls from the public regarding this vehicle driving erratically, and at high rates of speed. 

Witnesses reported the driver was also driving through red lights.

Officers observed the vehicle in the area of Wellington Street East and Tancred Street and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver sped away at a high rate of speed. 

The driver was allegedly hanging out the window of the vehicle as it was moving. 

Due to the volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the officer discontinued the pursuit and advised other police vehicles of the direction of travel.

The driver continued westbound on Wellington Street East and turned southbound onto Gore Street; the wrong way on a one way street, and struck a parked car. 

The driver continued southbound on Gore Street and rammed into another police cruiser.  

The driver then reversed away and the police cruiser started to follow the driver. 

The driver then fell out of his window and ran directly at the police vehicle. 

The officer stopped his cruiser, jumped out and proceeded to chase after the male as he was running away.   

The driver’s vehicle was still in gear and rolled and struck another parked vehicle on Gore Street.

The male turned and attempted to punch the officer; at this point the officer tasered the male.

Other officers attended in the area and assisted with taking the male into custody.

The male was taken to the hospital. 

While at the hospital the male allegedly assaulted a nurse, threatened the nurse and also damaged a hospital bed.

The male received minor injuries.

The male remains in police custody. 

The investigation is continuing and charges are pending against the male. 

Witnesses at the scene of a crash on Gore Street late this afternoon say the vehicle pictured crashed without a driver.

The driver jumped from the moving vehicle at the corner of Albert Street and Gore Street and the vehicle continued the wrong way on Gore Street until it came to rest after snapping off a parking meter directly in front of the Community Resource Centre.

A police vehicle pursuing the vehicle came to a stop on the corner of Albert and Gore Streets and the officer driving it exited the vehicle to pursue the driver of the car on foot.

The final crash occured at about 4:45 p.m. say witnesses at the scene who heard the crash.

Previous to the crash on Gore Street, the same vehicle was involved in a crash that left heavy damage on the front end of a police cruiser on North Street, near St. Georges Avenue.

SooToday.com will have more on the story when information becomes available.