The Toronto Police Service would like to inform the public of an arrest made in an impaired driving investigation.
On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at approximately 3:10 a.m., police responded to a call for a suspected impaired driver in the
McNicoll Avenue and Markham Road area.
It is alleged that:
- a white Ford Expedition was stopped on the road, facing eastbound
- the vehicle was running and in gear
- the driver of the vehicle was asleep at the wheel. It is believed that he may have been in that position for some time
- police woke up the driver
- the driver reversed the vehicle into a police car then struck another police car before fleeing east on McNicoll Avenue
- police pursued the vehicle along McNicoll Avenue, one block, to Tapscott Road before discontinuing the pursuit for the safety of the public and everyone involved
- the Ford hit a parked vehicle on Grapevine Circle before the driver fled on foot
- officers located a suspect and arrested him
Balachandran Santhira, 32, of Toronto, was arrested. He is charged with:
1. Impaired Operation of a Conveyance CC 320.14(1)(a)
2. Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance CC 320.13(1)
3. Fail to Stop For Police/Pursuit CC 320.17
4. Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident CC 320.16(1)
5. Fail to Comply with Undertaking CC 145(4)(a)
6. Fail to Comply with Undertaking CC 145(4)(a)
7. Operational While Prohibited CC 320.18(18)
He will appear in court at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East, on Thursday, July 2, 2020, by video.
The Toronto Police Service would like to thank those who made us aware of the driver and the vehicle. This is a great example of community and police partnerships in action.
We are also asking local residents, businesses, and drivers in these areas - who may have witnessed or have security or dash camera footage of the incidents - to contact investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at
www.222tips.com, online on our
Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.
For more news, visit
TPSnews.ca.