The man charged in connection to a stolen flatbed truck that led police on an epic chase down many of southern Ontario's busiest highways was remanded into custody following a brief court appearance.
Jason Meadus, 40, made his first court appearance in Milton, Ont. on Tuesday to face charges stemming from a bizarre and captivating marathon police pursuit.
Meadus was charged with ten offences, including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and theft of a motor vehicle. His hearing has been adjourned until Nov. 10.
The chase began shortly after 8 a.m. on Monday when officers attempted to stop the trailer at a truck stop along the westbound lanes of Highway 403 near Mavis Road in Mississauga.The driver finally pulled the truck over at about 1:20 p.m. after crossing the Toronto-bound Burlington Skyway with a caravan of more than 20 police vehicles in tow.
By that time, the chase had covered more than 500 kilometres, criss-crossing southern Ontario as far west as London and as far south as St. Catharines.
Police with guns drawn handcuffed the male suspect and took him to the OPP detachment in Burlington, where he was held overnight.
The truck was equipped with a device that kept it from accelerating past 105 km/h. OPP Sgt. Dave Woodford said its fuel tank was still three-quarters full when the chase came to a stop.
At one point early in the day, the tractor-trailer left the highway and police cruisers were forced to disengage their pursuit. The truck later returned to the highway and unmarked police vehicles began following the flatbed from a safe distance.
By the time the pursuit ended, more than 20 police vehicles were following the truck and the OPP helicopter was watching from above. OPP officials had been in contact with local police agencies in at least four areas during the extensive pursuit.
The tractor-trailer was first reported stolen from the Niagara Region overnight and originally had a load of wood material on its flatbed.
Police in Niagara-on-the-Lake said they received a report that the driver who leases the flatbed woke up to find the vehicle missing from where he usually leaves it parked.