An 18-year-old Ottawa man who was wanted in connection with a string of bank robberies was arrested along with four others following a police pursuit early Tuesday morning.
Kyle Snooks is charged with robbery, attempted robbery, uttering threats, intimidation and theft.
He was arrested when the driver of a 1984 Oldsmobile failed to stop for police, avoided a police road block by colliding with a police cruiser, and eventually lost control of the vehicle and hit a building. Once the car came to a stop at 290 Rideau Street, police were able to block the vehicle in.
Police arrested all the occupants of the vehicle, including Snooks. A hatchet and marijuana were also recovered.
A female passenger was treated by paramedics and transported to hospital for minor injuries. She has since been released into police custody.
The 20-year-old driver of the car, Osman Mohamed Hilowle, faces several charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and impaired driving.
A 17-year-old female passenger who was wanted by the central street crime unit was also arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine and failing to comply with a sentence.
Two other passengers were also charged. Passenger Leanne Duff, 23, was charged with failing to comply with judicial release. Another 17-year-old female is charged with obstructing police and failing to comply with a youth sentence.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 5166 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.