Driver of stolen vehicle rams Winnipeg police cruisers during pursuit; 3 arrested: WPS

Winnipeg police say two women and a 17-year-old girl were arrested after a lengthy pursuit Friday night during which the driver of a stolen vehicle rammed into three WPS cruisers.

Police say it began around 8:30 p.m. near River Avenue and Osborne Street when officers spotted a sedan with no rear licence plate and the front plate hanging.

Police say the vehicle matched the description of a car stolen on March 16 from Saint Boniface, which was spotted two hours earlier in the Logan-C.P.R. area.

Police allege the sedan began driving recklessly and fled, including going the wrong way down Stradbrook Avenue – according to a witness.

“The vehicle’s three occupants attempted to bail near Academy Road but were contained by responding units,” police said in a news release. “The driver of the stolen sedan subsequently rammed a marked police vehicle and took off, nearly striking an officer.”

Around 8:40 p.m., the vehicle was on Grant Avenue and began being tracked by a police helicopter “as it drove at a high rate of speed.”

Police say the stolen vehicle fled through the Assiniboine Park, Tuxedo and South Tuxedo areas.

Ground units deployed so-called “stop sticks” to deflate the vehicle’s tires.

“As a result, the vehicle’s tires began to deflate, but the driver refused to stop and continued driving as the tires eventually began to disintegrate,” WPS said.

“The sedan later entered a parking lot in the Tuxedo Industrial area and rammed two marked police vehicles as they attempted to stop it from fleeing.”

The Winnipeg Police Service says the vehicle finally stopped near Sterling Lyon Parkway and Kenaston Boulevard shortly before 9 p.m.

All three occupants were taken into custody.

Jenelle Leanne Ponace, 36, was charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, flight while pursued by peace officer, dangerous operation of a conveyance and theft of motor vehicle.

She was also processed on an outstanding arrest warrant for robbery, mischief under $5,000, possession of a weapon and failure to comply with condition of a release order.

A 17-year-old was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. She was also processed on two outstanding arrest warrants for failure to comply with sentence and failure to attend court (release order).

Both were detained.

A 36-year-old woman is facing charges of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. She was released on an undertaking as mandated by the Criminal Code.