Man leads police on ‘Gator’ chase in rural Erin

ERIN - Brampton man has been charged after leading police on a not-so-high-speed chase in a stolen off-road vehicle.

On March 15 at about 6:20pm Wellington County OPP officers responded to a call at a vacant farm on Sideroad 10 in the Town of Erin.

The complainant told police he located a John Deere Gator off-road vehicle parked in a shed on the property.

“While he was speaking to officers on the phone, a male attended the property and claimed the Gator was his,” police stated in a press release.

“The complainant passed the phone to the male, who advised that he would remain at the scene; however, he fled with the vehicle prior to police arrival.”

Police attempted to stop the vehicle on the 8th Line, but the suspect drove the Gator down a closed portion of the roadway, evading police.

About an hour later police located the suspect and vehicle on the 8th Line, where he once again failed to stop for police.

“The Gator continued travelling eastbound on Wellington Road 124, with the headlights deactivated, and onto a private property where he abandoned the Gator and fled on foot into a wooded area,” police stated. Officers apprehended the suspect after a brief foot chase.

Allan Dear, 51, of Brampton, was charged with obstructing a peace officer, flight from a peace officer, dangerous driving, possession of property obtained by crime (over $5,000), two counts of operating a vehicle while prohibited and three counts of driving while suspended.

He is to appear in Guelph court on April 16.