Hanover Police say two people are facing a list of charges following a violent struggle with officers.
Police say on April 6 at 8:37 a.m., officers responded to a report of two people sleeping in a vehicle parked at an apartment complex in the 100 block of 11th Avenue in Hanover.
When officers arrived on the scene, police say the suspects were recognized as having committed theft in Hanover from a previous incident on April 5.
When officers tried to arrest the pair, however, police say they violently resisted with the male suspect jumping in the driver’s seat with the female suspect and drove into the side of the apartment building.
An officer who was in the passenger seat was partially dragged while trying to make the arrest.
Police say the violent struggle continued after the crash, with the male escaping and fleeing on foot. He was captured, but the man continued to fight and resist. Officers were able to subdue the man with their tasers.
The female suspect, who also resisted, was taken into custody.
An investigation found the vehicle the suspects were in was stolen from the South Bruce OPP detachment area and the suspects were wanted in several police jurisdictions.
As a result, police say the 39-year-old man of no fixed address and the 23-year-old woman of no fixed address were charged with theft under $5,000, dangerous operation of a conveyance, flight from a peace officer, assault with intent to resist arrest, assault with a weapon, resisting arrest of a peace officer, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of methamphetamine for the purposes of trafficking, possession of fentanyl for the purposes of trafficking, and possession of methamphetamine.
Police add the man faces an additional three counts of failing to comply with a release order and failing to comply with an undertaking. The woman also faces operation of a conveyance while prohibited and two counts of failing to comply with a release order.
“Police determined the male suspect is currently wanted on 27 criminal and drug charges in four policing jurisdictions in Ontario and the female suspect is currently wanted on 10 criminal charges in two police jurisdictions in Ontario,” says Hanover Police.
As a result of the incident, police say one officer and both suspects had minor injuries which were treated at the Hanover and District Hospital.
Police add the apartment which the vehicle crashed into received minor damages.
The suspects were held and later remanded into custody at their bail hearings.
“This incident is an example of the transient nature of people who move from one jurisdiction to the next committing crimes along the way that often results in unpredictable, volatile, and dangerous situations for the police officers that encounter them,” says Hanover Police.
