Essex County OPP arrest man suspected of stealing two trucks

A 21-year-old Amherstburg man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly switched from one stolen vehicle to another.

The arrest happened on the night of Nov. 8 in connection with a series of criminal occurrences across Windsor and Essex County.

Earlier that day, a Dodge vehicle was reported stolen in Windsor.

Around 8:20 p.m., OPP said a man was in the driver’s seat of that stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a financial institution in the 100 block of Talbot Street North in Essex.

At that time, a customer pulled into the parking lot and entered the bank, leaving his Chevy truck unlocked and unoccupied, with the motor running.

According to police, the suspect left the stolen Dodge, got into the Chevy truck and drove off.

When the customer came out of the bank and realized his truck had been stolen, he called 911.

Around 8:45 p.m., an OPP officer noticed the stolen Chevy truck at a gas station in the 7000 block of Highway 3.

The cruiser approached with lights flashing, but the truck immediately peeled out of the parking lot and sped away. OPP said the officer decided not to pursue the fleeing vehicle in consideration of public safety.

However, just a few minutes later, other officers — detectives with the Essex County OPP street crime unit — spotted the stolen truck travelling in the area of Highway 3 and Walker Road.

The officers followed the truck at a distance until it eventually pulled into another gas station in the 5000 block of Walker Road, now in the municipality of Tecumseh.

A lone male could be seen getting fuel for the vehicle. The detectives approached him on foot.

Upon seeing the officers, the man tried to get back into the truck and drive away.

This time, he wasn’t fast enough — OPP stopped him and took him into custody.

Police said a search of the suspect and the vehicle uncovered a pellet pistol, a disguise and breakin tools.

Terrence Welch, 21, of Amherstburg, has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property (value over $5,000), flight from police, resisting arrest, possession of breakand-enter tools and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.