An incident that sparked a large police presence in various Midland neighbourhoods, required extensive resources that included an OPP helicopter and canine unit, and prompted a hold-and-secure at a local elementary school ended with the arrests of three people late Friday.
Just before 2 p.m., Southern Georgian Bay OPP officers responded to a driving complaint at a Highway 12 shopping centre in Midland.
Officers learned that the involved vehicle had been reported stolen the previous.
As police arrived on scene, the vehicle fled the area in a "dangerous manner," police said in a media release.
With concerns for the safety of the public, officers did not engage the vehicle which fled westbound on Highway 12.
A short time later, the vehicle was located in a ditch on Highway 12 near Sumac Lane. Three individuals fled on foot into a wooded area however officers were able to arrest two of the suspects.
A third suspect, who was believed to be armed, stole a different vehicle nearby and fled the area for a second time. This vehicle was found abandoned on Yonge Street.
Officers arrived in the area and, out of an abundance of caution, Huron Park Public School was placed in a hold-and-secure.
The investigation led police to a residence on Queen Street near Yonge Street where officers cordoned off the area for public safety. At around 7 p.m., five hours after the incident began, the third suspect was arrested without incident.
During the course of the five-hour incident, the OPP was aided by the detachment's street crime unit, the Centra Region's canine unit, an emergency response team, a tactics and rescue unit, the OPP helicopter and a critical incident command.
All accused parties were held for a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice.
Further information regarding the identities of the accused parties as well as charges will be released at a later time, police say.
"Members of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP would like to thank members of the public, specifically the staff, students and parents of the affected school for their patience and cooperation," noted the media release.
