Driver of stolen truck leads police on mayhem-filled chase from …
A 31-year-old Winnipeg man charged for his alleged role in a wild stolen-vehicle pursuit that began in the North End and ended in a ditch in Portage la Prairie was the driver in a 2009 high-speed collision that killed a father of one.
At about 11:40 p.m. Sunday, Winnipeg Police Service officers spotted a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 truck that had been reported stolen earlier that day.
A chase of some 90 kilometres began. Videos spread widely online show sparks flying from the damaged truck as its wheels disintegrated to the point it drove on its rims.
On Tuesday, WPS spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said police attempts to stop the suspect vehicle included the use of spike strips to damage its wheels.
“It’s always concerning to have… our officers involved in a vehicle pursuit, where not only the public are at risk, but also our officers,” said Chancy.
“We do know that the vehicle being pursued was driving very erratically, and at certain points, was driving against traffic, endangering the public.”
Court records show the accused in Sunday’s events pleaded guilty in March 2011 to criminal negligence causing death for driving a stolen Hummer SUV into 47-year-old Zdzislaw Andrzejczak’s vehicle at the corner of Andrews Street and Alfred Avenue in December 2009.
He was sentenced to about 4 1/2 years in custody, along with a 15-year driving ban.
Andrzejczak, an auto mechanic who had immigrated from Poland, died of massive internal injuries, his son Kamil said Tuesday.
The stolen Hummer’s driver ran a stop sign and slammed into Andrzejczak’s vehicle at 94 km/h in a 50-km/h zone.
JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS FILES
Court records show the accused pleaded guilty in March 2011 to criminal negligence causing death for driving a stolen Hummer SUV into Zdzislaw Andrzejczak’s vehicle at the corner of Andrews Street and Alfred Avenue in December 2009.
“I want to know why he is still doing this after he took someone that was so important away from us?” Kamil told the Free Press. “How lucky are we that he didn’t kill anybody on Sunday?
“I hope he’s put away for life, because he’s proven he is going to keep doing this.”
After their initial report Sunday night, patrol officers began to follow the stolen truck, with the assistance of a police dog unit and tactical support, but it was able to get away, police said Tuesday.
Officers then reported the vehicle driving southbound on the 400 block of McPhillips Street, before making its way to Fort Street and Broadway, where a police vehicle was rammed.
The WPS vehicle was left inoperable; its officers later went to hospital with minor injuries, police said.
Police followed the stolen truck speeding west on Portage Avenue before exiting the city.
“Probably at least 25 cruiser cars going full speed, lights, sirens, everything. I thought I was in a movie.”–Ken Maines
Ken Maines was eastbound on Portage Avenue near Overdale Street at around midnight, when he saw an estimated 10 police cars pursuing the high-speed vehicle as sparks flew from its undercarriage.
The 70-year-old realtor said he didn’t realize the westbound suspect vehicle was across the median — coming at him in the wrong direction — until nearly the last second.
“I was lucky to get out of the way. It was really quite startling. I veered off to the right. I just made it… and he whipped by me, sparks coming out of the bottom of the car. Who knows what kind of car it was, it was going so damn fast,” said Maines.
“I swear to God, I almost lost my life that night.”
After pulling over to gather himself, Maines continued east on Portage Avenue — and minutes later saw an additional 10-15 police vehicles headed west at high speed.
“Probably at least 25 cruiser cars going full speed, lights, sirens, everything. I thought I was in a movie,” he said. “I’m just amazed that they were chasing that fast with the public still out there driving cars on Portage Avenue.”
“I’m just amazed that they were chasing that fast with the public still out there driving cars on Portage Avenue.”–Ken Maines
Headingley RCMP, along with WPS tactical police and dog units, took over and followed the damaged vehicle west, until it lost control and hit a ditch on the west side of Portage la Prairie, about 85 km west of Winnipeg.
The suspect was hospitalized in stable condition with injuries from the downtown Winnipeg collision, police said.
Mounties arrested the suspect at about 1 a.m. Monday. After he was handed over to city police, he provided a fake name to officers, WPS said.
The man has been charged with two counts of assault on a police officer with a weapon, dangerous operation, flight while pursued by police, operation while prohibited, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
He was also charged with two counts of fail to comply with a probation order and four counts of fail to comply with a release order. He remains in custody.
Court records show the 31-year-old was also found guilty of a 2019 motor vehicle theft in January 2021. He was given 37 days in jail, on top of time already served.
Police are asking anyone with information on the overnight Sunday events to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.
FREE PRESS FILES
Zdzislaw Andrzejczak was 47 years old when he was killed in the December 2009 crash.
Kamil Andrzejczak, who was 23 when his father was killed, is now a father of four and lawyer specializing in estate law.
“I can’t look at my children without wishing my dad got to meet them… He would’ve been an amazing grandfather,” he said, adding more needs to be done to intervene in the lives of repeat criminals.
“Not just work in terms of jailing the violent offenders, but our entire system needs a lot more work in terms of preventative measures dealing with poverty, dealing with mental health issues,” he said.
“We can’t just be locking people away forever, but we have to deal with the community in different ways.”
Erik PinderaReporter
Erik Pindera reports for the city desk, with a particular focus on crime and justice.
References
- ^ Read full biography (www.winnipegfreepress.com)