Man who stole police cruiser facing charges for 4-month long crime spree

Featured, Justice

Man who stole police cruiser facing charges for 4-month long crime spree

June 28, 2019

The suspect arrested in Thursday’s theft of a Winnipeg Police Service patrol unit has also been accused of participating in a four month long crime spree around Winnipeg.

Police say that Terry Johnathon Dutko, 20 from Winnipeg, is responsible for a number of stolen vehicles and break-ins between February 25th and June 25, 2019.

Dutko has been accused of the following incidents:

On February 25, 2019, a vehicle was stolen from a car rental company in the 900 block of King Edward St.
On February 26, 2019, merchandise was stolen from a clothing store in the 3600 block of Portage Av.
On March 1, 2019, a convenience store in 3300 block of Portage Av. was robbed. Stolen merchandise was later recovered after being sold online.
On March 3, 2019, at a gas station in the 3000 block of Pembina Hwy. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On March 5, 2019, a restaurant in the 3000 block of Ness Av. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On March 5, 2019, a gas station in the 1600 block of Kenaston Blvd. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On March 5, 2019, a gas station in the 2100 block of Pembina Hwy. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On March 5, 2019, a gas station in the 3000 block of Pembina Hwy. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On March 19, 2019, a vehicle was stolen from a car rental company in the 1700 block of Waverley St.
On March 22, 2019, keys and a vehicle were stolen from a car dealership in the 3900 block of Portage Av.
On March 28, 2019, merchandise was stolen from a grocery store in the 2100 block of McPhillips St.
On March 29, 2019, officers were in the area of Salter St. and Inkster Blvd. when they observed Dutko driving a vehicle. Attempts were made to stop the vehicle; however, he fled at a high rate of speed and disobeyed numerous traffic control devices.
On April 11, 2019, a gas station in the 1100 block of McLeod Av. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On April 11, 2019, Dutko was observed operating a vehicle while prohibited from driving in the 1300 block of McPhillips St.
On April 12, 2019, Dutko was observed operating a vehicle with stolen licence plates in 1200 block of St. Marys Rd.
On April 18, 2019, licence plates were reported stolen from a vehicle.
On April 30, 2019, officers were in the area of Arlington St. and Pritchard Av. when they observed Dutko inside a vehicle. The vehicle immediately fled at a high rate of speed and Dutko later fled on foot. Five grams of cocaine, five grams of crack cocaine and cash was seized from within the vehicle.
On May 2, 2019, a vehicle was stolen from a car rental company in the 1300 block of King Edward St. – On May 6, 2019, items were stolen from a construction site in the area of Sturgeon Rd. and Tonka Pt. – On May 6, 2019, a stolen credit card was used at a gas station in the 1300 block of McPhillips St.
On May 10, 2019, a construction business in the 1200 block of Tonka Pt. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On May 21, 2019, an automotive services business in the 600 block of McGregor St. was broken into, and a vehicle was stolen.
On June 6, 2019, a vehicle was stolen from a car rental company in the 1300 block of King Edward St.
On June 9, 2019, a gas station in the 3300 block of Portage Av. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On June 18, 2019, a gas station in the 1600 block of Ness Av. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On June 20, 2019, a gas station in the 1100 block of McLeod Av. was broken into, and merchandise was stolen.
On June 22, 2019, a convenience store in the 400 block of Springfield Av. was robbed, and merchandise was stolen.
On June 25, 2019, licence plates were stolen from a vehicle in the 700 block of Broadway.

Police say the incident the led up to the patrol unit being stolen began around 2:30 am on Thursday, June 27, 2019, when officers spotted a stolen Jeep in the McGregor Street, Jarvis Avenue area. Officers tracked the vehicle with help from Air-1 as it headed west through the city.

As it became evident that the suspects in the vehicle were heading towards the Perimeter Highway police deployed a stop stick as the vehicle left the city. The Jeep came to a stop at the Flying-J gas bar in Headingley.

Both suspects got out the the Jeep and approached a vehicle from Quebec that was stopped with three occupants. The suspects dragged the occupants out of the vehicle and fled. One of the occupants had attempted to retrieve some items in the vehicle and was dragged about 20 ft before getting free from the fleeing vehicle.

Police say one of the victims was taken to hospital with significant injuries.

As the suspects tried to evade police they were forcibly stopped on Portage Avenue heading westbound by a number of Winnipeg Police patrol units. The pair jumped out of the vehicle they had carjacked and fled on foot. The suspect passenger was arrested but Dutko was able to steal a Winnipeg Police patrol unit and flee.

Investigators say that as the suspect was fleeing in the cruiser he hit a WPS officer. The officer did not require hospitalization.

Out of a scene from a Hollywood movie the suspect then took off west along the Trans-Canada Highway travelling at times in excess of 200 kilometres per hour. Police who were chasing the vehicle say that Dutko was driving erratically and in a dangerous manner.

RCMP eventually stopped the vehicle by deploying a tire deflation device. The vehicle came to a stop at the Flying-J just east of Portage la Prairie.

Dutko jumped out of the police unit and attempted to carjack a vehicle from an adult female but RCMP were able to prevent that and place the suspect under arrest.

Dutko is facing 55 charges for his alleged involvement in the crime spree and theft of the police cruiser including:

Robbery (x5)
Aggravated Assault
Assault a Peace Officer
Theft of Motor Vehicle (x3)
Theft Over $5000
Theft Under $5000 (x2)
Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (x3)
Operation of a Conveyance While Prohibited (x2)
Flight While Pursued by Peace Officer (x2)- Possession of a Weapon
Break Enter & Theft Place (x8)- Break & Enter with Intent Place (x2)
Disguise with Intent (x6)- Fraud Under $5000 (x2)
Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine (x2)
Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000 (x3)
Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 (x5)
Trespassing at Night- Fail to Comply Condition Recognizance by Judge/Justice (x3)
Drive suspended/while disqualified (Highway Traffic Act)