In what appears to be a dramatic arrest, a St. Catharines man faces numerous charges after twice attempting to evade police by ramming two police cruisers.
On May 6, 2021, at approximately 5:40 pm Niagara police were called to Hillview Street near Tunis Street in St. Catharines. They found a black, 2005, four-door, Acura TSX parked at the side of the road with the keys in the ignition. Police say the male driver and the female passenger were both asleep and exhibiting signs of possible drug use.
An officer positioned a police cruiser behind the Acura and spoke to the driver, who provided a false name. The driver then reversed and struck the cruiser and sped away. Officers briefly pursued the Acura but “quickly discontinued the pursuit out of the concern for public safety.”
At 6:24 pm police located the Acura parked in a parking lot in the area of Pelham Road and 5th Street Louth in St. Catharines. The man was still in the driver’s seat and the female was still in the passenger seat. The officer parked their cruiser behind the Acura. The Acura again suddenly reversed striking the cruiser, and then repeatedly rammed the cruiser in an attempt to escape.
When the Acura became inoperable from damage, the officer attempted to arrest the male driver, but the driver refused to exit the car or turn it off. “He continued to depress the accelerator causing the tires to spin in place. This created a large smoke cloud, resulting in the Acura catching on fire,” a police news bulletin said. The man refused to exit the Acura and had to be physically removed and arrested.
No members of the public or officers were injured during this incident. Damage to the first NRPS cruiser is estimated at $2,000. Damage to the second NRPS cruiser is estimated at $10,000. The Acura was destroyed by fire.
The male driver was transported to a local hospital for assessment. He was later released from medical care and transported to the NRPS Prisoner Management Unit in Niagara Falls.
Jonathon William Kell, 33, of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with obstructing police, impaired operation of a conveyance, flight from police, dangerous operation, and failure to comply with probation. The provincial charges he faces are: Refusal to comply with demand/drug, using plate not authorized for vehicle, and a number of other vehicle-related charges.
Kell was held in custody in order to attend a video bail hearing at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse in St. Catharines scheduled for today.
The female passenger was initially arrested and was later released without charges.
Police ask anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or have any information related to it them to call 905-688-4111, extension 1024233.