A Windsor man is facing a slew of charges after police say he fled the scene of a collision while intoxicated.
A Windsor police sergeant was on patrol Thursday around 9:30 p.m., near Wyandotte Street East and George Avenue, when she heard a loud crash coming from behind her. When the officer went to investigate in her marked cruiser, police say a silver SUV with heavy damage fled the scene down George.
The officer took pursuit and signalled the driver to pull over, but police say her requests went ignored. Eventually the vehicle pulled over near Central Avenue, that’s when the officer got out of the cruiser and yelled to the driver to turn off the ignition.
However, when the officer approached the vehicle, police say the SUV drove off. The chase was called off for public safety.
A short time later, police received reports of an impaired driver in the area of Huron Church Road near Malden Road.
Officers attended the intersection and found the SUV stopped at a red light, that’s when police say they blocked the suspect’s path with their cruiser. Officials say the driver then reversed and accelerated into the side of the cruiser – fleeing the area north on Malden Road.
The vehicle and the driver were located at 10 p.m. in a parking lot near Hill Street and Peter Street.
Rafal Christopher Jopek, 35, was arrested and charged with disqualified operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation of a motor vehicle, exceed 80 mg blood alcohol content, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of leaving an accident scene and two counts of fail to stop for police.
Jopek will appear in court at a future date.
