This week, dramatic scenes unfolded in Canada when an Ontario man was caught on camera ramming police vehicles with a Ford Bronco while waiting in line at a Tim Hortons drive-thru.
As reported by CBC News, authorities were summoned to Westwood Square in Mississauga, a city adjacent to Toronto, on Tuesday after someone identified the 25-year-old driver as the suspect in a recent store theft. Additionally, he was allegedly armed. Upon arrival, police found the Bronco parked at the Tim Hortons drive-thru and verified that it was stolen, marking yet another notable episode in the ongoing saga of car theft in the Toronto region.
As multiple police vehicles surrounded the Bronco, the driver attempted to escape, utilizing the vehicle’s off-road capabilities.
#WATCH
Scene at Westwood Plaza Mississauga😳👀‼️💬 #Westwoodplaza
pic.twitter.com/Tqm5lA8TFH— CarraDeShaukeen (@CarraDeShaukeen) September
4, 2024
While the Ford Bronco excels in off-road situations, it isn’t designed to drive over larger vehicles like a Dodge Durango.
“Our officers were able to pin the vehicle to keep the driver from escaping, but as seen in the viral videos, he made several attempts to break free — even driving onto the front of one of the cruisers,” noted Constable Nikhil Chakravarthy in an interview with CBC News.
Witnesses reported that the Bronco driver then tried to flee through the passenger window until an officer subdued him using a Taser. He now faces multiple charges including three counts of possessing stolen property, fleeing from and obstructing a peace officer, and reckless driving.
This level of aggression might seem unusual for Canada, but as a resident of Toronto, I can attest that it is just part of ongoing chaotic driving incidents in the area. Along with a prevalent car theft issue, Toronto is known for having some of the most congested traffic globally, ranking third in a recent study of cities with the slowest commutes. Locals often say, “Toronto is an hour away from Toronto,” highlighting the resulting rise in road rage, with videos of fights and drawn weapons circulating widely in recent times.
Nevertheless, the imagery of this incident remains distinctly Canadian: the familiar Tim Hortons background, the bright red Bronco, and the noticeable absence of gunfire from law enforcement paint a uniquely Canadian picture — almost as if a polar bear could be seen just out of frame.
Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach him here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com
.
