A Toronto man is facing numerous charges after a police officer was pepper-sprayed while trying to arrest a man he allegedly caught attempting to steal a snowmobile.
Police say an officer on patrol early Tuesday morning in Barrie, Ont., saw a man driving a snowmobile and was pepper-sprayed in the face when he confronted the man.
They say the suspect fled on foot and the officer, despite limited vision, caught up with him but the man managed to break free.
Investigators say that when additional officers arrived and approached the man, he attempted unsuccessfully to use pepper spray on them as well.
They say a police dog tracked the man's path and located break and enter tools as well as a pickup truck previously reported stolen from Toronto.
A 35-year-old man faces 17 counts that include administering a noxious substance, assault with intent to resist arrest, break and enter and attempting to obstruct a peace officer.
