What appeared to witnesses as a high-stakes traffic stop involving Greater Sudbury Police tactical officers on the Kingsway Wednesday afternoon was, according to police, the recovery of a stolen vehicle.
Sudbury.com managing editor Mark Gentili came upon the scene during his evening commute. Gentili observed both tactical and uniform patrol officers stopping a black sedan in the parking lot of Cindy's Homebrew at approximately 4:30 p.m. on May 24.
Gentili was able to take photos and video of the male driver of the sedan and a female passenger being taken into custody, as well as a search of the vehicle.
GSPS spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn told Sudbury.com that the incidents were unrelated.
Dunn said the black sedan was reported stolen to police on May 23. Officers then located the vehicle traveling on the Kingsway at approximately 4:20 p.m. the following day.
Officers stopped the vehicle and took two of the four occupants — a man and a woman — into custody.
The 21-year-old male driver was charged with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and failure to comply with a probation order.
The 30-year-old female passenger was arrested on outstanding arrest warrant. She just happened to be traveling in the vehicle at the time of the stop and is not suspected of participating in its theft.
Dunn said that despite the strong show of force during the arrest, tactical officers were not specifically called to respond and were simply in the area at the time the vehicle was located.
