Portage la Prairie RCMP arrested a man last weekend after a stolen vehicle was recovered following a dangerous drive through the city.

The incident began on the evening of February 28, when Amaranth RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle from Langruth. Police learned the suspect was known to the vehicle’s owner and may have been headed toward Winnipeg.

Officers in Portage la Prairie began searching for the vehicle and spotted it on Highway 1 just west of the city.

Attempts to stop the vehicle were initially unsuccessful, as the driver failed to pull over and ran a red light in the city. For public safety, officers temporarily discontinued the pursuit.

A spike belt was later deployed near Saskatchewan Avenue East, successfully deflating the tires. Police then safely boxed in the vehicle, which had briefly collided with a police cruiser before coming to a stop.

Lorenzo McIvor, 25, of Sandy Bay First Nation, was taken into custody. He faces multiple charges, including vehicle theft over $5,000, assault on a police officer with a weapon, failing to stop while being pursued, resisting or obstructing police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and several counts of failing to comply with release orders.

McIvor was released the following day on a release order.