Brampton Man Charged After Ford Bronco Driven Over Police Cruisers in Tim Hortons Drive-Thru

A Peel Police shoulder patch is seen in Mississauga, Ont., on July 1, 2023. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

A 25-year-old Brampton man faces multiple charges after a stolen SUV was driven over police vehicles in a Tim Horton’s drive-thru in an attempt to flee, Peel Regional Police say.

Ramanpreet Singh Singh is charged with three counts of possession of property obtained by crime, one count of flight from police, one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle, and one count of obstructing a peace officer, said Peel Regional Police in a Sept. 4 news release.

The Sept. 3 incident took place just after 6:30 p.m., when police received a call about a suspicious vehicle near Westwood Mall in Mississauga. The driver was believed to be in possession of stolen property and weapons, police said.

Officers determined the Ford Bronco was stolen and approached the vehicle at a Tim Horton’s drive-thru. A video of the incident posted online shows police vehicles blocking the Bronco’s exit at the restaurant order window.

The driver backs up the vehicle as a police officer exits one of the cruisers with his gun drawn and attempts to open the passenger side door, which appears to be locked.

As the officer says something to the driver, the Bronco moves forward, pushing the first police car backwards and driving up it. An officer jumps from the car and onto the ground as the Bronco continues onto a second police car before tipping sideways on top of both cruisers, which can be seen crushed under the Bronco’s weight.

The Bronco then reverses, driving down from the police vehicles and into the drive-thru lane before a third police vehicle enters the drive-thru behind the Bronco, pinning it in place.

The driver, who suffered minor injuries, was arrested and taken into custody, police said.

Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 905-453-2121 or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The incident comes just weeks after the Government of Ontario announced it was cracking down on auto theft. The province will spend $134 million on five new police helicopters for use in the Greater Toronto Area and Ottawa, according to a July 29 news release.

It’s a move that follows data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) that says 2023 saw a record-breaking $1.5 billion price tag for insurance claims on stolen vehicles.

IBC said it was the second year in a row that auto theft claims have exceeded $1 billion.