REGINA – A 30-year-old man is facing multiple charges after evading police and driving dangerously through the city.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 4, Regina Police Service patrol officers were dispatched to a business in the 3700 block of Chuka Boulevard for a report of an impaired drive.
As officers, on the ground, were en route to the address, the Aerial Support Unit locked into the vehicle’s location from above. ASU informed ground patrol units that the vehicle was leaving the area and appeared to be swerving as it drove down the road, nearly colliding with both parked vehicles and oncoming traffic.
Officers on the ground initiated a traffic stop and discovered two people inside the vehicle. The driver was showing signs of impairment and provided fraudulent identification. Officers repeatedly asked him to exit the vehicle. He refused and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
The ASU tracked the vehicle from the sky as the driver travelled through the east end of the city, disobeying signals, nearly colliding with various vehicles and almost hitting a child on a bicycle. At times the river was travelling at speeds of 100 km/h down residential streets.
The vehicle finally came to a stop near the 1400 block of Grosvenor Street. Both occupants of the vehicle ran from the scene. ASU directed officers to the occupants near Dewdney Avenue and Ring Road. After a short foot chase, the two suspects were arrested.
A search of the suspect driver after he was arrested turned up 219 grams of methamphetamine, a small quantity of cocaine, cash, and a pocket knife.
Nickolaos Velikas, 30, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, obstruction, resisting arrest, identity fraud with intent to avoid arrest, dangerous driving, impaired drive, and driving while prohibited.
Velikaas made his first appearance on these charges in Regina Provincial Court on Aug. 5.
