A man arrested after a break and enter at a convenience store in west Ottawa, followed by the theft of a police cruiser and a chase that involved dozens of Ottawa, Gatineau and RCMP officers, has been released without charges, police say.

The break and enter occurred at a convenience store in the Richmond Road area just before 11 p.m. Sunday night.

Clerk Sue Firth, who had closed the store earlier that night, told CBC News Monday that the suspect smashed a front window and took $285 in cash, loonies and toonies from the register, as well as about $700 to $800 worth of cigarettes.

The suspect fled with $285 in cash and about $700-$800 worth of stolen cigarettes from this convenience store. (CBC)

The suspect then fled in a vehicle, followed by police, and rammed into a police cruiser that was attempting to block the road.

"The [suspect] driver slowed down, but then sped off trying to get around the [cruiser], making contact with the officer's cruiser," said Acting Insp. Jamie Dunlop in an interview with CBC News on Monday.

There was a short vehicle pursuit, and then the suspect got out of his vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded park area. The officer pursuing him got out of his cruiser and followed the suspect to try to apprehend him, said Ottawa police, at which point a "scuffle" broke out.

Officer fired gun once

The officer unintentionally discharged his firearm once during that scuffle, Dunlop said. No one was injured.

The suspect then managed to get into and steal the officer's cruiser after the officer lost sight of him in the darkened park area.

A stolen Ottawa police cruiser was found abandoned near Lanark and Beechgrove avenues in residential Westboro overnight. (CBC)

"When [the officer] circled back, his vehicle was gone," Dunlop said.

The cruiser was later found abandoned a short distance away, near Lanark and Beechgrove avenues in residential Westboro, with all the police equipment still inside, Dunlop added.

Officers set up a containment area and used a canine unit to search for the suspect. Residents reported seeing and hearing a large police presence in the area.

Okay, what's going on in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Westboro?src=hash">#Westboro</a>? It is SWARMED with police on every single street.. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottawa?src=hash">#ottawa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottcity?src=hash">#ottcity</a> —@KylesWeather

Lots of yelling and spotlights. <a href="https://t.co/y3zbJsfgSy">pic.twitter.com/y3zbJsfgSy</a> —@ALL_CAPS

<a href="https://twitter.com/glen_mcgregor">@glen_mcgregor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CFRAOttawa">@CFRAOttawa</a> Here is a photo of the abandoned cruiser Lanark Beechgrove <a href="https://t.co/7jVPdbqNLj">pic.twitter.com/7jVPdbqNLj</a> —@trbouma

A 37-year-old man was then arrested in Gatineau's Aylmer sector.

Ottawa police initially said he was facing multiple charges and that they were keeping him in custody until he could appear in court, but on Monday he was released without being charged.

The investigation continues.