He is accused of stealing the vehicle when police responded to a call for service

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE POLICE SERVICE

*************************

On Sept. 30, 2017 officers with the Patrol Services Division of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service arrested 31-year-old Jason Reid of Sault Ste. Marie for impaired driving and theft over $5,000.

At 1 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2017 officers responded to a call for service regarding an altercation in the 700 block of Second Line West. Officers exited the vehicle and spoke with Mr. Reid. Mr. Reid (appeared to be) intoxicated and had sustained injuries.

Officers then attended a residence in the area in order to investigate the call for service.

Shortly after this, the accused, Mr. Reid entered the drivers seat of an unattended police vehicle and drove off. The police vehicle was running and the proximity key that was in the possession of the officer on scene allowed the vehicle to remain running and be driven.

The accused left the area driving erratically at a high rate of speed. Moments later, the accused struck a concrete driveway culvert and a utility pole in the 600 block of Cooper Street causing significant damage to the police vehicle.

The accused then left the area on foot. Officers attended and located the accused a short distance away where he was taken into custody. While being taken into custody, the accused refused to comply with officers and resisted when officers were attempting to handcuff him.

Jason Reid has been charged with;

One count of impaired driving,

One count of driving with a blood alcohol level that is over the legal limit,

One count of theft over $5,000,

One count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,

One count of failure to remain at the scene of a collision,

One count of possession of property obtained by crime; and,

One count of resisting arrest

He appeared in WASH court today. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is currently investigating this incident internally to determine if there were any internal policy breaches and to learn how to prevent it from happening in the future.

If you have any information regarding these crimes, or any other crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 705-942-7867 or 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), submit an e-tip from the Crime Stoppers' website or text keyword SSM with your tip to 274637.

*************************

