London police have pressed charges against a man following a bizarre incident involving a skid steer in the city’s northeast end.
Officers responded to a 911 call at around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday from a citizen reporting that a man was driving a skid steer erratically in the area of Sunningdale Road East and Adelaide Street North. The caller told police the accused was intentionally trying to run into their vehicle.
Before police arrived, the suspect reportedly got out of the construction vehicle and accosted another man, before assaulting him. Police said the accused tried to steal the victim’s vehicle, but took off on foot when he was unsuccessful in doing so.
Officers were given a description of the suspect and he was located and arrested nearby.
No injuries were reported.
An investigation determined the skid steer had been stolen from a downtown construction site near York and Talbot streets earlier the same evening and the accused had driven it several kilometres across the city.
A 35-year-old London man has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, prohibited operation of a vehicle, assault with intent to steal, and impaired operation of a vehicle.
The accused remains in police custody and was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
