Spike belt ends high-speed attempt to flee police in Ontario wilderness: Brampton driver charged

A Brampton man is facing multiple charges after Ontario Provincial Police say a high-speed driver attempted to evade officers in a remote area of Northwestern Ontario before being stopped with the help of a tire deflation device.

The incident unfolded Tuesday morning on Highway 17 in Wiggins Township, a sparsely populated area approximately 114 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

According to Schreiber OPP, an officer conducting traffic enforcement observed a 2020 BMW travelling at 138 km/h shortly before 10:30 a.m.

Police say the driver failed to stop when directed and instead turned onto Mountain Bay Road, a dead-end secondary road with limited exit options.

Officers quickly moved to contain the vehicle by positioning patrol cars to partially block the roadway. A tire deflation device was then deployed to prevent the vehicle from escaping further, bringing the situation to a halt.

The driver was located and arrested a short time later without further incident.

Hamza Aftab, 22, of Brampton, has been charged with flight from a peace officer, speeding, failing to surrender a driver’s licence, and failing to display two licence plates.

Police also note the same vehicle had previously been involved in a fail-to-stop incident in Halton Region, and the accused was already wanted on outstanding warrants in that jurisdiction.

Aftab was held in custody pending a court appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice.