Car thief rams police cruiser, falls asleep in truck after crime spree, police say
29-year-old man started the spree with a bicycle and ended it passed out in a truck, police say
Winnipeg police have charged a 29-year-old man after a day-long crime-spree that involved stolen vehicles, a police chase and a pit stop to break into a home.
Police say it all started around 11:30 a.m. Saturday when the man, riding a bicycle, confronted a female passenger in a Jeep Wrangler and then sat in the driver's seat of the vehicle while it was parked at a gas bar in the 1400 block of Henderson Highway.
The suspect attempted to drive off, but the owner of the Wrangler exited the gas bar in time to turn the vehicle off and retrieve her keys, police said.
The suspect kicked the driver's side door and then fled the area on foot, police said.
Police say that's when the man did the following:
- 11:45 a.m. – Broke into a nearby home in the 300 block of Springfield Road, where he took keys and a Chevrolet Silverado.
- 12:00 p.m. – After driving the stolen truck, the man struck a parked Dodge Caravan in the area of McLeod Avenue and Henderson Highway and fled.
- 12:40 p.m. – Still driving the stolen truck, the suspect hit another vehicle, this time a Freightliner tow truck while in the area of Redonda Street and Gunn Road before fleeing.
Winnipeg police say they spotted the stolen truck at 12:49 p.m. near Pandora Avenue West and Moroz Street.
But police weren't able to stop the driver in time before he allegedly caused more damage in the 600 block of Melrose Avenue West. There he collided with a police car.
Police say the suspect then fled the area and did the following:
- Around 3:10 p.m., broke into a collision centre on Owen Street, where he stole a Honda Pilot, before driving through an overhead door causing "significant" damage. The Honda was "rendered inoperable."
- The suspect then entered a Ford F150.
Police found a suspect about a half hour later passed out inside the truck and arrested him.
The man is facing a long list of charges including assaulting a police officer with a weapon, mischief over $5,000, driving while impaired and without a licence, robbery and break and enter.