An alleged impaired driver was arrested at gunpoint after police say he led officers on a chase and rammed a cruiser during a pursuit Thursday that began in Collingwood.
Shortly before 11:30 p.m., police responded to a report of a possible impaired driver. The vehicle with a female driver and a male passenger was seen leaving a parking lot and heading south on Balsam Street.
While responding, officers were told the vehicle had returned to the parking lot. The male passenger exited and got into the driver’s seat of another vehicle in the lot. Both vehicles then left in different directions. Officers split off in search of the male driving a black Chevrolet Silverado and the female driving a Chevrolet Trax.
The Silverado was located westbound on Highway 26 in The Blue Mountains, near Craigleith Provincial Park. Police conducted a traffic stop and attempted to arrest the man for impaired operation, but he took off in the vehicle westbound on Highway 26 toward Thornbury, Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP said in a news release.
The truck was intercepted by police soon after and boxed in near the intersection of Grey Road 40 and Grey Road 2, near Thornbury. The driver attempted to flee by ramming one of the police cruisers. That’s when he was arrested at gunpoint.
Jody Smits, 48, was charged with dangerous operation, flight from a peace officer, operation while impaired, operation while impaired (blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus), driving while under suspension, and seven counts of operation while prohibited. He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
The Trax was spotted by police on the west side of Collingwood, heading east on Highway 26.
Jacquelynne Thorpe-Stewart, 43, of New Lowell, was charged with operation while impaired, operation while impaired (blood-alcohol concentration 80-plus), and possession of a Schedule 1 substance. She was released from custody.
