Sudbury man driving blue Chevy Cruze wanted by North Bay police

North Bay police released data showing the city’s downtown is getting safer–the police chief broke down the figures from the last 5 years showing the decrease.

A suspended driver from Sudbury is wanted by police in North Bay for the dangerous operation of a vehicle and fleeing from officers over the weekend.

North Bay patrol officers were called to deal with a man suspected of doing drugs in the driver’s seat of a car in the North Bay mall area on Lakeshore Drive on Saturday.

“When officers arrived, an attempt was made to speak to the driver, at which time he fled the area in the vehicle at a high rate of speed, with no regard for public safety,” North Bay Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

“Officers pursued the vehicle for a short distance, and the vehicle was last observed heading east on Marshall Avenue. The pursuit was terminated shortly after it began in the interest of public safety.”

The suspect, 43-year-old Clinton Withers, was driving “an older model dark blue Chevrolet Cruse” with licence plate number DEJX771 at the time of the police chase.

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An arrest warrant was issued after the suspect was identified Monday.

Police are asking the public for help locating Withers but said not to approach him.

“Police are asking anyone who may have been in the area (at) the time to check their dash cam for footage of the incident and to contact them,” police said.

“The accused is known to frequent the Sudbury area.”

Insp. Jeff Warner said the incident demonstrates the suspect’s lack of regard for public safety.

“His erratic driving and attempt to evade the police in a heavily populated area put the community and the motoring public at risk,” Warner said.

“I would encourage him to find counsel and turn himself in at his earliest opportunity.”

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Tips about Withers’ whereabouts can be called in to 911, police at 705-497-5555 and press 5 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

No images of the suspect or vehicle have been provided by police.

The accused is also charged with three counts each of operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code and driving while suspended under the Highway Traffic Act.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.