Police chase of alleged dangerous driver closes Highway 401, ends with arrest of Mississauga resident
Published December 22, 2023 at 2:53 pm
A Mississauga resident is facing stunt driving and several other charges after police in southwestern Ontario were led on a brief lunch-hour chase on Wednesday by a dangerous driver on Highway 401.
The incident, in which OPP tried twice unsuccessfully to stop the speeding car, led to a brief closure of the busy highway in London before officers finally corralled the vehicle.
Middlesex OPP said in a news release that the series of incidents unfolded just after 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 when officers responded to reports of a “vehicle being driven in a dangerous manner” in the westbound lanes in London.
After police spotted the car, “a traffic stop was attempted. However, the vehicle failed to stop and a brief pursuit was terminated,” OPP said.
Moments later, according to police, another public complaint was received of the same car travelling in a dangerous manner in nearby Elgin County.
The vehicle was located by an Elgin OPP officer and a tire deflation device, or spike belt, was deployed. However, that attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle also failed.
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“Due to the increased risk to public safety, police (then) conducted a rolling stop on the vehicle on Highway 401 westbound at Victoria Road in Chatham-Kent,” OPP said in the news release.
One police cruiser sustained minor damage in the rolling stop of the vehicle, police said, adding the highway was closed briefly while officers brought the vehicle to a stop.
One person was subsequently taken into custody without incident.
No injuries were reported.
Adrian Dziwik, 29, of Mississauga, is charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, flight from peace officer, stunt driving, fail to stop on right for emergency vehicle, unsafe move (lane or shoulder) and have care or control of vehicle or boat with cannabis readily available.
The accused will appear in court on Jan. 23.
Stunt driving is defined as vehicles travelling at:
- 50 km/h or more over the speed limit where the posted limit is above 80 km/h
- 40 km/h or more over where the limit is 80 km/h or less
- a speed of 150 km/h or more on any road or highway