One arrested after spike belt deployed near Thessalon: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police east of the Sault arrested an Oakville driver after he allegedly fled on foot when officers deployed a spike belt.

Police say they received two traffic complaints on Monday of a westbound vehicle passing dangerously and travelling at an excessive high rate of speed on Highway 17 near Massey.

Police report observing the driver, who locked in at a speed of 191 km/h in a posted 90 km/h zone, at approximately 7:43 a.m. east of Blind River.

In a press release issued this afternoon, OPP report that the driver passed officers in a fully marked police cruiser with its emergency lights activated and failed to stop.

Police allege the driver made attempts to avoid the cruiser and at approximately 9:15 a.m., a spike belt was successfully deployed on Highway 17 in the Municipality of Huron Shores, east of Thessalon, and eventually came to a stop due to tire damage. 

According to police, the driver then exited the vehicle ran into a wooded area.

A foot chase ensued with officers arresting the driver, Abdul Solaimankhil, 21, from Oakville, who faces the following charges:

• Dangerous operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code (CC);
• Flight from peace officer, contrary to section 320.17 of the CC;
• Race motor vehicle - excessive speed, contrary to section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA); and with
• Driving while under suspension, contrary to section 53(1) of the HTA (three counts).

The accused appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice Video Bail in Blind River on April 13, 2021 and was released by way of release order.