Video: Impaired driver leads police helicopter on chase from Oshawa to Kawartha Lakes

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Published October 17, 2022 at 3:51 pm

A man faces numerous charges after allegedly leading police on a lengthy chase from Oshawa up to Kawartha Lakes.

Durham Regional Police officers were on patrol when they spotted a silver Honda driving erratically near Simcoe St. and Glover Rd. The officers caught the car shortly before 10:30 p.m. on October 13.

The cops tried to pull the Honda over at a red light. However, police claim the car sped off and failed to stop. Citing public safety concerns, the officers broke off pursuit.

The police helicopter Air 1 was on patrol in the Oshawa skies as the car took off. The chopper caught up to the Honda as it travelled eastbound on Drum Rd. The Honda had fled more than an hour away to Kawartha Lakes.

Officers in police cruisers soon caught up to the car as it raced down Hwy 407. They followed at a safe distance and threw out stop sticks, a time deflation device. The stop stick did its job and deflated the tires bringing the car to rest near Homestead Rd. and Pontypool Rd.

Police allege the driver then took off from the Honda on foot only to be arrested without further incident.

Video captured by Air 1 cuts in as the Honda races past two sets of officers on Drum Rd. The officer in the chopper indicates the Honda’s tires are starting to fall apart, saying “He’s gonna run outta tire soon.”

The Honda continues down Drum Rd. past numerous houses while reaching speeds in excess of 100 km/h. The car comes to a stop on an unnamed stretch of road in a wooded area. The driver gets out and takes off toward nearby train tracks, falling down as he does so.

The driver crosses the track and flees into a neighbouring backyard, before doubling back to the tracks. He follows them East, before heading north into the treeline.

As the driver stands at the treeline, trying to find a way in, at least five police officers catch up to him from behind. They then arrested the man without further incident.

Jordan Watkins, 35 of Whitby, is charged with;

  •  impaired driving,
  • dangerous driving,
  • failure to stop for police,
  • driving with open liquor in the car, and
  • impaired driving while a novice driver

Watkins was later released from custody with conditions. Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation can call Cst. Sutherland at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 3980, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at  1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

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