Winnipeg police utilized Air 1 in a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle early Tuesday.
Police spotted the stolen 2003 Mercedes-Benz at around 1:40 a.m. in the area of Broadway and Maryland Street.
Officers followed the vehicle while Air 1 maintained a visual from the sky for about 30 minutes. The driver, travelling at a high rate of speed, drove in an erratic manner and ignored several traffic signals. At one point, he drove into oncoming traffic and narrowly avoided a collision.
A spike belt was used to blow out the vehicle’s tires, which caused it to slow down on the west Perimeter Highway near Centre Port Canada Way.
Once the driver exited the vehicle, police say he discarded a loaded shotgun, which officers recovered.
Police searched the vehicle and also located a hunting knife, pistol pellet gun and live ammunition. They also found a cell phone and identification, which was stolen during a robbery on February 4.
Lee Edward Douglas Pashe, 32, of Winnipeg, has been charged with numerous firearm, property, and driving offences.
The vehicle was reported stolen on February 9 from a parking lot in the 1000 block of Notre Dame.
Pashe remains in custody.
