EDITOR'S NOTE: Batchewana First Nation Police Service has issued a correction. Police reported earlier that the police cruiser involved in the collision was a BFN Police vehicle and that the accused was 33 years old and resided in Stephenville Crossing, Nfld. Police now say it was an Anishinabek Police Service cruiser involved in the collision and that the driver is 39 years old and lives in Sault Ste. Marie. The story has been edited to reflect that new information.
A Sault man is facing a long list of charges after allegedly ramming a stolen pickup truck into a local police cruiser and then running from the cops.
On Aug. 7, shortly after 1:30 p.m., members of the Batchewana First Nation Police Service and Anishinabek Police Service spotted a wanted person behind the wheel of a pickup truck on McNabb Street.
When officers tried to pull over the truck, police say the driver rammed into the APS cruiser and sped away from the scene.
With the help of both the Sault Ste. Marie OPP and local police, authorities located the pickup on Pine Street — but the driver had fled on foot. (A passenger wanted on a separate warrant was arrested at the scene by city police.)
The driver was eventually apprehended and turned over to Batchewana police.
Police say they later learned the pickup truck was stolen from Echo Bay.
Brandon Bennett, a 39-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, is charged with:
- failure to comply with release order - other than to attend court (six counts)
- possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- flight from peace officer
- dangerous operation
- assault a peace officer with weapon
- mischief over $5,000
- driving while under suspension (three counts)
He appeared in bail court via video link on Aug. 8 and was remanded into custody.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Bennett is considered innocent unless proven guilty.