Charges have been laid after two London police cruisers were rammed by a man trying to get away from officers.
Police were at a convenience store at the corner of Wellington Street and Horton Street East when they spotted a man believed to be wanted sitting in a vehicle around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. As officers spoke to the man he allegedly put the vehicle in reverse and hit a police cruiser.
The officers moved their cruisers in an effort to stop the man, but he reversed a second time, crashing into both police vehicles. The man then drove off at a high rate of speed, travelling west in the eastbound lanes, police said.
Officers did not give chase out of concern for public safety. The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later in the area of Winston and Emery streets.
Two hours after the initial incident, police arrested a suspect on Paddington Avenue.
A 24-year-old London man has been charged with driving while prohibited, dangerous driving, failure to stop for police, and failure to comply with a release order. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Damage to the police cruisers is estimated at $1,500, while damage to the suspect vehicle is set at $23,000.
No injuries were reported.
