Five people in two vehicles were arrested in separate traffic stops east of the Sault on Friday, resulting in charges for both the drivers and occupants, all from the Greater Toronto Area.
Among the charges are possession of heroin, possession of break-in instruments, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Shortly before 3 a.m., members of the Sault Ste. Marie Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were conducting stationary radar on Highway 17 in Laird Township when they attempted to stop a vehicle travelling over the speed limit.
The vehicle failed to stop for police and fled the scene, the OPP said in a news release.
Police said they did not pursue the suspect vehicle out of regard for public safety when considering the dangerous operation of the fleeing vehicle.
A short time latter, OPP were dispatched to a collision on Highway 638 in Laird Township where they found the same vehicle they had tried to stop earlier.
Police said all the occupants had fled the accident scene on foot.
The OPP Canine Unit was dispatched, and two males were arrested and taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed a third individual that abandoned the vehicle had been picked up by a second vehicle.
The second vehicle was located and stopped on Highway 17.
The driver at the second traffic stop had given a false name and it was determined that they were prohibited from operating a motor vehicle, police said.
The driver and passenger were also on conditions to not be together, police said.
All parties were arrested and charged.
Vehicle driver Lovepreet Gharu, 24, of Brampton was 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
The driver of the second vehicle, Amritpal Khattra, 26, of North York (Toronto) was 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 (14 counts)
- Possession break-in instruments
- Driving while under suspension (2 counts)
- Possession of a schedule I substance - Heroin
Vehicle passenger Mehakpreet Kaur, 24, of Toronto was 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 (15 counts)
- Possession break-in instruments
Vehicle passenger Tamandeep Singh, 25, of Brampton was 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 (2 counts)
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 (14n counts)
- Possession break-in instruments
Vehicle passenger Harshdeep Singh, 28, of Brampton was charged with:
- Failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court (2 counts)
- Possession of a schedule I substance - Heroin
- Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
All the accused vehicle drivers and passengers are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie on April 25.