Spike belts stop home invasion suspects near North Bay

OPP NEWS RELEASE

************************* Two men charged following police pursuit

NORTH BAY, ON – The Ontario Provincial Police has charged two men following a fleeing vehicle pursuit Tuesday along Highway 63 east of North Bay.

On the morning of June 17, North Bay OPP officers were on the lookout for a stolen late-model van after having received a zone alert issued by Halton Regional Police following a home invasion style robbery in rural area of Milton, west of the village of Campbellville.

A short time later, Halton Regional Police contacted North Bay OPP after information came to light that persons of interest were in the North Bay area.

That information led OPP to a North Bay business and then to a business in Eldee on Highway 63 around 11:30 a.m.

The subject vehicle was then spotted by the Surete Du Quebec just outside the Town of Temiscaming, Quebec and fled from police, re-entering Ontario.

From that point, Ontario Provincial Police took control of fleeing vehicle apprehension and deployed a series of spike belts at different locations along Highway 63 in an effort to bring the suspect vehicle to a stop.

The pursuit ended when the driver of the suspect vehicle attempted to force a police cruiser off the roadway, lost control of his vehicle and rolled over.

Willy Barbje, 30 of Germany is charged with the following:

- Flight from police officer. - Impaired driving. - Dangerous driving. - Unauthorized possession of a firearm. - Possession of stolen property. - Fraud under $5,000 – three counts.

Konstantin Bruck, 31 of Germany is charged with:

- Unauthorized possession of a firearm. - Possession of property obtained by crime. - Fraud under $5,000 – three counts.

The two accused remain in police custody and are scheduled for a court appearance in North Bay today, June 19.

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