ON Sunday, March 10, an officer from the Peel Regional Police Strategic Enforcement Unit attempted to stop a transport truck in Brampton for a traffic-related offence.

The driver of the truck fled from the officer, nearly hitting a pedestrian as he ran multiple red lights while speeding away. The officer was able to successfully identify the driver as Lovepreet Singh, a 29-year-old man from Mississauga.

After an extensive investigation, officers from the Safer Roads Team were able to track and locate him at a local gas station. He was operating a rental vehicle, impaired by drugs, and breaching multiple conditions of release, as well as two driving prohibitions, police said.

He was charged with a total of 19 offences: operation of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs; possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance – heroin; possession of property obtained by crime; identity theft; operation while prohibited (four counts); dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (two counts); fail to comply with release order (five counts); flight from peace officer; failure to stop after accident; and obstruct police officer.

Prior to being arrested by Peel Regional Police, he had been arrested and charged for leading other police agencies on a pursuit that spanned approximately 1,000 km and ended in Etobicoke. He subsequently obtained fraudulent driving documents and continued to operate transport truck and trailers in the GTA and other provinces, police said.

Due to the severity of these offences his disregard for his conditions of release, and his history of fleeing from police, he was denied bail. He served six months pre-trial custody and subsequently pled guilty. He was given a 12-month sentence and credited with time served.

Anyone with any information on incidents like this are asked to contact the Road Safety Services Safer Roads Team at 905-453-2121, extension 3750. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.