DRPS Traffic Services yesterday explained the reason why people sometimes see and/or hear a helicopter circling overhead at night.
“We often see the local neighbourhood groups on social media posting non-stop asking ‘what the helicopter is doing over ABC’… well here’s a small part of it! Our Air1 flight officers assist on missing persons, high-risk calls for service, traffic stops and more,” they explained after an incident on Friday.
On April 19 at about 1:50 am, Air1 responded do a single vehicle collision in Pickering, said a police report.
It said the vehicle had gone off the roadway and crashed into a ditch. The driver was observed fleeing the area on foot.
As police checked the area, Air1 located a suspicious male matching the description of the driver. It continued to track the suspect as officers closed in on the suspect’s location. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody, police said.
The suspect showed signs of alcohol consumption and impairment. He was transported to a police facility to complete a breath test. The man completed two alcohol breath tests with results of 150mg and 160mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal driving limit for alcohol consumption is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
Police said the 26-year old male from Pickering was charged with operation while impaired, operation while impaired – exceed, and fail to remain at accident.
“Consume alcohol responsibly. Do not drink and drive. If you suspect a driver is impaired contact 911. Do your part to keep the roadways and communities safe,” police said.
On Friday, April 19, 2024, members of DRPS with the assistance of Air1 and the K9 Unit, responded to a collision in Pickering.
As officers checked the area, Air1 located a male matching the description of the driver walking through backyards, and attempting to hide from police. pic.twitter.com/IShhW69HBe
— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) April 24, 2024