

Chris Fox, CP24.com





A suspected impaired driver is facing charges after he crashed his vehicle into a pole near Finch Station, fled the scene on foot and then allegedly made up a story about a violent carjacking.

Police say that the suspect was travelling at a high rate of speed southbound on Willowdale Avenue on Thursday night when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road at Cummer Avenue and slammed into a hydro pole.

They say that the suspect fled the scene on foot and then told a passerby in the area that he had been the victim of a violent carjacking and needed to be driven to hospital.

Police say that the suspect alleged that he had been carjacked by two suspects, one of whom armed with a knife and the other armed with a gun.

As a result, police say that a significant number of officers were dispatched to the area to look for suspects that were believed to be armed and dangerous.

Further investigation, however, revealed that the story was false.

Police then arrested a suspect, identified as 27-year-old Matthew Cook, and charged him with impaired driving, driving over 80 mg and public mischief.

On Friday morning police told CP24 that Willowdale Avenue remains blocked north of Cummer Avenue as hydro crews continue their efforts to replace the broken pole.

The suspect, meanwhile, was held in custody overnight but has since been released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.