A 17-year-old from Oshawa is facing nine charges, including multiple firearm and drug-related offences, after he fled from police on a dirt bike on April 8, 2026. The incident began at approximately 4:45 p.m. when officers from the Central East Division of the Durham Regional Police Service attempted a traffic stop.
Police reported that they observed the dirt bike travelling the wrong way on a one-way street at high speeds. When the rider refused to pull over, officers attempted to stop him, but the driver continued to flee. With the help of bystanders who provided real-time location updates to 911 dispatchers, officers were able to track the suspect after he abandoned his dirt bike and attempted to run away on foot.
Following a short chase, the youth was taken into custody. During the arrest, officers searched a satchel the teen had discarded while running and discovered a loaded handgun with a prohibited high-capacity magazine, as well as a quantity of drugs. In Ontario, dirt bikes are designed for off-road use only and are prohibited from being driven on city streets because they lack the necessary safety equipment and registration required for public roads.
The youth, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was held for a bail hearing. The investigation is being led by D/Cst. Curwain of the Central East Division Criminal Investigations Branch. Police are asking anyone with dash cam, surveillance, or cell phone footage of the incident to contact D/Cst. Curwain at 1-888-579-1520, extension 2063. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers.
