When the car is the weapon: More drivers are ramming police cruisers

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Peel Regional Police are reporting a disturbing trend: in the first five months of 2021, people have rammed cruisers with their own car 23 times in attempts to avoid or flee police. It’s dangerous, it’s getting worse, and police are using multiple tactics to handle it.

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You can see a video recorded by a residential cam here , wherein someone boxed in by cruisers tries to ram their way out. You can also imagine how dangerous it is for all involved when the car becomes a weapon. Police have special tactical training and methods, but the increase in occurrences is disturbing. Comparing the first five months of this year over last, speeding charges have increased 34 per cent, and stunt charges 300 per cent. Peel police note a marked increase in aggressive driving, something reflected in road rage stats across the country. People are angrier, and they’re taking it out through their driving.

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When the car is the weapon: More drivers are ramming police cruisers Back to video

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How dangerous can the ramming be? In late May, one Brampton driver ended up ramming a cruiser while attempting to elude a traffic stop. His charges — of which there were many — included attempted murder. In February , another Brampton driver in a stolen vehicle rammed two police cruisers as well as a civilian vehicle. Shots were fired by police, and three were arrested. In January , another driver of a stolen vehicle rammed into two cruisers, and was eventually tracked down by the K9 unit.

It’s not just happening in Peel; in May, Hamilton police attempted to stop a car with no front plate (the rear one was stolen) when the driver slammed into their cruiser, the occupants bolting from the trapped car. The charges for the trio included possession of meth, breaking parole, and dangerous driving.

People willing to slam directly into police to make their getaway will obviously do whatever it takes. The danger to police is obvious, and the danger to the community is huge.