Man accused of reporting a fake crash to escape police spot check

OPP have charged one male from Ramara with impaired driving charges connected to an incident on June 11, 2021(FILE)

North Bay — On July 14 at around 1 a.m., North Bay Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a RIDE spot checks on the North Bay bypass.

A vehicle approached and the driver spoke with officers. While officers were conducting an investigation into the driver, the vehicle left the scene.

About a half an hour later, a two-vehicle crash was reported to police, which was supposed to have occurred on Hwy. 11 north, in North Bay.

Officers arrived but found no crash. Police say they later learned the call came from the driver who fled the RIDE check.

Police then launched an investigation into a criminal harassment, domestic incident which involved the driver from the RIDE program.

Police arrested the man the same day on Beaver Lane in Commanda Township. He fled into the bush and was eventually arrested by officers two hours later.

The 42-year-old man from Commanda Township faces a slew of charges including criminal harassment, uttering threats and driving under suspension, among other charges.

He is being held pending a bail hearing.