Marathon OPP – Individual in Custody after failure to stop for police

Members of the Marathon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have taken one person into custody following an investigation involving a stolen vehicle and failure to stop for police.

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Schreiber OPP officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle observed travelling at a high rate of speed on Highway 17 near Schreiber. The vehicle failed to stop and fled eastbound.

Members of Marathon OPP later located the suspect vehicle and successfully deployed a tire deflation device. A section of Highway 17 in Marathon was briefly closed while officers conducted the vehicle stop.

The vehicle was subsequently located abandoned off Highway 17 near Old Heron Bay Road and was confirmed stolen.

As the investigation continued, several OPP resources were deployed, including the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Canine Unit, and Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). Members of the public were advised to avoid picking up hitchhikers and report any suspicious activity in the area.

Shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the suspect was located by police and taken into custody without incident.

As a result of the investigation, Cole JOHNSON, 27 years old of Pickering, has been charged under the Criminal Code with:

• Flight from a peace officer
• Dangerous operation
• Operation while prohibited under the Criminal Code – three counts
• Possession of a Schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order – four counts
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 – two counts

The accused was held in custody pending a bail hearing before the Ontario Court of Justice.

Marathon and Nipigon OPP would like to thank members of the public for their patience and cooperation during this investigation.

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OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) provide policing services throughout Ontario. Our officers are responsible for policing over one million square kilometres of land and waterways. They provide frontline policing services to more than 320 Ontario municipalities and patrol over 126,000 kilometres of provincial roadways.

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