Editor's note: Of the nine charges laid against the accused in March 2020, six were withdrawn. On June 28, 2021, he was convicted on two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
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An Oro-Medonte Township man is facing nine charges following a chase that led police from Barrie to Orillia on Friday.
More charges are expected to be laid as the investigation continues.
Orillia OPP Const. Scott Williams said August (Luke) Greiner, 37, has been charged with five counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, uttering threats, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and assault with intent to resist arrest.
Officers from Barrie city police and Ontario Provincial Police were led on a wild and dangerous chase Friday that left a trail of damage following a pursuit that stretched some 30 kilometres before ending near OPP General Headquarters.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon said officers in Barrie are also investigating at least eight fail-to-remain collisions that occurred during the course of the chase. He suspects there could be more that involved minor damage and may not have been reported yet.
Barrie police received a call at 1:19 p.m. about a van being driven erratically on Grove Street in the city’s northeast end and was also believed to have been involved in a theft of gas earlier in the day.
The full-size white van then made its way through northwest Barrie and into Springwater Township, leading to what Leon has described to as a “path of destruction.”
Barrie police pursued the van into Springwater Township and when they thought they had the driver cornered, an officer who had attempted to open the vehicle's door got his hand stuck and was dragged while the driver sped off again.
The officer was later taken to local hospital, examined and released with no serious injuries.
After the officer was able to free himself, the van headed across Sunnidale Road to Anne Street and eventually made its way to Blake Street where the driver connected onto Penetanguishene Road heading toward Napoleon Road, just outside the Barrie city limits.
At 1:38 p.m., Friday, Orillia OPP officers also responded to a call for theft of gas on Highway 11 in Gasoline Alley in Oro-Medonte Township.
Provincial police located and attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, but the van continued north on Highway 11, colliding with a numerous vehicles before it was eventually stopped near OPP headquarters around 3 p.m.
The driver was placed in custody and taken to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital.
The suspect allegedly tried to attack police officers with a saw and a tire iron.
Several officers sustained minor injuries and were also taken to hospital as a precaution.
Motorists involved in the collisions on Highway 11 have been asked to report to a Collision Reporting Centre.
Witnesses and anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the incident are asked to contact Orillia OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
