EDWARDSBURGH-CARDINAL – Grenville County OPP are asking for witnesses to come forward after an incident on November 23rd around lunch time. The incident began after a report of a single vehicle collision on County Road 15 in Merrickville-Wolford Township.
The vehicle in that collision had been reported stolen in Ottawa by the Ottawa Police Service earlier the same day.
Before police arrived at the scene, a citizen stopped to assist the driver in the collision. Police say the suspect driver threatened the citizen with an edged weapon and demanded that he be transported in the citizen’s vehicle. The citizen complied and drove the suspect towards Kemptville. Shortly after, the suspect released the citizen, uninjured, on the side of the road and fled in the vehicle.
Police attempted to stop the driver in the second stolen vehicle, but discontinued their pursuit due to dangerous driving displayed by the suspect.
Just before 1 p.m., police allege that the suspect threatened staff at the Drummond’s gas station in Spencerville with an edged weapon and stole alcohol and cigarettes from the store.
The situation ended shortly after on Rooney Road where the stolen vehicle was involved in a single motor vehicle collision. The suspect was arrested by OPP at the scene.
The suspect, Ronald Eby (32) of no fixed address, faces multiple charges including:
- One count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
- One count of flight while pursued by police;
- One count of impaired driving;
- One count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm;
- One count of forcible confinement;
- One count of theft of a motor vehicle over $5,000;
- Two counts of armed robbery;
- Three counts of property obtained by crime over $5,000;
- One count of mischief under $5,000;
- One count of failure to comply with a probation order;
- And one count of breach of recognizance.
Eby was held for bail and will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brockville.
Grenville County OPP, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry OPP, the OPP’s Grenville County Crime Unit, the OPP Forensic Identification Unit and OPS are involved with the incident.
Witnesses of the event are encouraged by police to contact Detective Belanger with the Grenville County OPP detachment at 613-925-4221 or 1-888-310-1122.
