Trio from Brampton face dozens of charges after run from the law

Three 20-somethings from Brampton are facing a long list of drug, traffic and property crime charges after trying to make a run from cops near Sault Ste Marie last week.

Shortly before 3:00 a.m. on Friday (April 21), the OPP says officers from the Sault Ste Marie detachment were working radar speed enforcement on Hwy 17 when they saw a vehicle with three occupants going over the speed limit in Laird Township, approximately 45 kilometres east of Sault Ste Marie.

Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but police say that’s when the driver took off and fled the scene. The OPP says officers didn’t pursue the vehicle as a precaution due to the driver’s “disregard for public safety and dangerous operation.”

A short while later, police received a call about a collision on Hwy 638. When officers arrived on scene they discovered the same vehicle that ran from officers had been involved in a crash, but all three occupants were missing.

Police called in a Canine unit to help search for the suspects and police say two males were arrested and taken into custody by officers.

But the third suspect was picked up by the driver of a second vehicle, police say. The getaway vehicle was stopped by officers on Hwy 17, and police say the driver gave officers a fake name during the traffic stop.

Police say the driver is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle, and that the driver and passenger are on conditions to not be together.

Three suspects from Brampton, one from North York and one from Toronto were all arrested and charged by the OPP. During the investigation, police say officers found heroin and break-in tools, and say that the suspects were in possession of property obtained by crime.

Lovepreet Gharu, 24, of Brampton has been charged with:

• Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada
• Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Personation with intent to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice
• Fail to surrender permit for vehicle
• Fail to surrender insurance card
• Drive motor vehicle fail to display two plates
• Possession of a schedule I substance – Heroin

Tamandeep Singh, 25, of Brampton has been charged with:

• Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court
• Failure to comply with undertaking
• Possession of a schedule I substance – Heroin
• Possession break-in instruments
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (fourteen counts)
• Possession break-in instruments

Harshdeep Singh, 28, of Brampton has been charged with:

• Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court (two counts)
• Possession of a schedule I substance – Heroin
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000

The driver of the second vehicle Amritpal Khattra, 26, of North York has been charged with:

• Dangerous driving
• Flight from peace officer
• Driving while prohibited
• Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court (three counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (fourteen counts)
• Possession break-in instruments
• Driving while under suspension (two counts)
• Possession of a schedule I substance – Heroin

Vehicle passenger Mehakpreet Kaur, 24, of Toronto has been charged with:

• Failure to comply with release order – other than to attend court
• Possession of a schedule I substance-Heroin
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (two counts)
• Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (fifteen counts)
• Possession break-in instruments

The accused are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste Marie on Tuesday. None of the allegations have been proven in court.