Three people were taken into custody after they led police on a chase through the west end of the city on Friday night, March 31, 2023.
Winnipeg Police Service says that around 8:25 pm officers were near River Avenue and Osborne Street when they spotted a car with no rear licence plate and the front plate was hanging. The vehicle matched the description of one that had been stolen two weeks earlier on Marion Street.
As officers searched the area they were flagged down and a bystander told them a sedan was travelling the wrong way on Stradbrook Avenue. The vehicle was spotted going westbound on Wellington Crescent. Officers confirmed that the vehicle was stolen.
As the car travelled along Academy Road the driver and two passengers tried to bail from the vehicle but they were contained by several patrol units. The driver rammed one of the police cars and fled nearly striking an officer.
Police once again found the vehicle around 8:41 pm on Grant Avenue near the West District Police Station. Air-1 began to track the vehicle as it sped away and drove erratically through the Assiniboine Park, Tuxedo and South Tuxedo areas. Police successfully deployed several stop sticks and the vehicle’s tires began to deflate. The driver continued to flee but the tires began to disintegrate.
Police say that the driver of the car then went into a Tuxedo industrial area parking lot and rammed two police vehicles that had tried to stop it.
The incident came to an end around 8:54 pm when the significantly damaged car came to a stop at Sterling Lyon Parkway and Kenaston Boulevard.
All three occupants were taken into custody.
36-year-old Jenelle Leanne Ponace has been charged for her alleged involvement with four counts of Assault a Peace Officer with a Weapon, Flight while Pursued by Peace Officer, Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance and Theft of Motor Vehicle. Ponace was also processed on an outstanding warrant for Robbery, Mischief Under $5,000/Obstruct in Enjoyment, Possession of a Weapon and Fail to Comply with Condition of Release Order.
A 17-year-old female was charged for her alleged involvement with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000. She was also processed on two outstanding arrest warrants for Fail to Comply with Sentence and Fail to Attend Court – Release Order.
A 36-year-old woman was charged for her alleged involvement with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000. She was released on an undertaking as mandated by the criminal code.
