A stolen SUV, two sleeping suspects, and a police spike belt all made for a dramatic arrest in Mississauga early Friday morning, Dec. 23.

Peel Regional Police say a citizen reported a suspected impaired driver on Hurontario Street near Highway 403. Police checked the area and didn’t find the SUV, but a check of the licence plate provided by the citizen indicated it was stolen.

Some time later, around 2:10 a.m., officers came upon the stolen vehicle, idling in a parking lot at Beverley Street and Airport Road in Malton. Two men were inside, apparently asleep. Police surrounded the SUV, set up a spike belt and approached to awaken the men inside.

A knock on the vehicle window, and moments later, the SUV drove off, hitting two marked Peel police cruisers, according to police.

Officers didn’t pursue the vehicle because they knew it had driven over the spike belt and the tires would deflate, according to police spokesperson Const. Mark Fischer.

Instead, they began searching for it, and soon found two suspects walking near where the abandoned SUV was found on Cardiff Boulevard, almost 6 kilometers away.

They were arrested and charged.

Sahil Sahil, 23, of Mississauga has been charged with possession of stolen property, dangerous driving, flight from police, breach of an undertaking and possession of heroine and methamphetamine. Sukhwinderpal Sandhu, 23, of Brampton has been charged with possession of stolen property.