Stolen vehicle's getaway thwarted by winter storm

Though Monday's ice storm was thecause of collisions, delays and frustration, it inadvertently played hero in a police chase Tuesday morning, stopping a suspect in a stolen vehicle.

On Monday at around 5 p.m., a man entered car sales lot on Burton Street and asked a clerk in their office about a black 2002 Mercedes ithad for sale, a release said. The clerk walked the man out to the car with keys and a booster since the car's battery was dead. The clerk then walked back to the office to get the car's plates, but when the clerkcame back, the carwas missing and the Toyotain which the man had arrivedwhich had also been reportedstolenremained on the lot.

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The clerk called police and the info was relayed to other officers. Then just past midnight on Tuesday, police spotted and pursued the un-plated Mercedes.

Poor weather conditions forced police to end the chase, but the information was broadcast out to other officers. One officer in the Mohawk and Upper James area saw the car drive into a gas station and leave without paying.

The officer came up behind the vehicle as it was leaving the station, and saw the Mercedes get stuck in thick snow.As the vehicle struggled to get out of the snow, other officers in the area blocked in the vehicle to prevent another getaway.

A 29-year-old Hamilton man has been charged with the following:

• Dangerous operation flight from police
• Theft and possession over $5,000 (Mercedes SLK 230)
• Driving while disqualified
• Theft under $5,000 (fuel)
• Possession under $5,000
• Two counts of failure to comply with probation