Man strikes police cruiser with stolen car in Ajax, investigators allege

A man is in custody after allegedly driving a stolen car into a police cruiser in Ajax.

A Durham Region Police officer was out on patrol around Bayly St. and Kitney Rd. when his automated licence plate reader (ALPR) picked up the plate of a stolen car.

An ALPR is a new sensor which sits on top of a police cruiser and automatically scans all plates around. It then checks if there are any alerts associated with the plate, such as if the car is stolen or the owner is missing. Durham police introduced the readers back in November 2022, in an effort to address rising rates of auto theft.

The patrolling officer called in backup, which quickly arrived and tried to corner the car. However, the stolen car rammed a cruiser and was able to escape. Officers later found the car abandoned a short distance away.

They searched the surrounding area and found a suspect who they claimed was trying to flee through a nearby residential area.

Matthew Cassidy, 35 of Whitby, was arrested without incident and is charged with dangerous driving, fleeing police, possession of stolen property, drug possession, driving while prohibited and two counts of breaching probation. Cassidy remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Anyone with information about the case can call police at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2132 or 2295 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).