Suspect Accused of Fleeing Traffic Stop Before September Crash at May Street N. and Finlayson

THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Thunder Bay Police Service have laid a lengthy list of charges against a 54-year-old man following a hit-and-run investigation tied to a September collision and a subsequent December arrest involving cash and suspected drugs.

Police say officers were called to the intersection of May Street North and Finlayson Street on September 1, 2025, where they found two damaged vehicles—but only one driver at the scene.

Investigators allege the other driver fled, and that the same driver had failed to stop for a traffic stop before the collision.

ROPE Arrest Made December 15

Thunder Bay Police say the suspect was located and arrested on December 15, 2025 by Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) with assistance from TBPS. The accused remains in custody pending a future court date.

Charges Laid

September 1 Collision-Related Charges

Thunder Bay Police say Eric LINDSTROM, 54, is charged with:

• Operation while prohibited (driving while under a court/legal driving ban)

• Flight from a peace officer

• Dangerous operation causing bodily harm

• Fail to stop at scene of accident resulting in bodily harm

• Obstruct / resist peace officer

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

• Breach of probation

• Possession of a Schedule I substance (cocaine)

• Possession of a Schedule I substance (fentanyl)

• Breach of release order

Additional Charges Following December 15 Arrest

Police allege more drugs and cash were seized during the December arrest, leading to additional charges including:

• Possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl, cocaine, and meth)

• Weapons dangerous (pepper spray) (a weapons offence that can carry significant penalties depending on how it is prosecuted)

• Additional operation while prohibited, property obtained by crime over $5,000, breach of release order, and fail to comply with probation allegations

All charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Seizures Cited by Police

Thunder Bay Police report the following seizures during the investigation and arrest:

During the investigation

• $10,405 in cash

• 2.24 grams of fentanyl, police-estimated value about $560

During the December 15 arrest

• $5,560.30 in cash

• 263 grams suspected meth

• 41 grams suspected fentanyl

• 11 grams suspected cocaine

Police estimate the street value of drugs seized during the arrest at $48,170.

What the Charges Could Mean in Court

Penalties depend on Crown election (where applicable), criminal history, and facts proven at trial or admitted on a plea.

Driving-related offences involving bodily harm

• Dangerous operation causing bodily harm and failure to stop after an accident causing bodily harm can carry a maximum of 14 years imprisonment if prosecuted by indictment, and also include mandatory minimum penalties in certain circumstances.

• Flight from police, operation while prohibited, and failure to stop (non–bodily harm version) can carry penalties up to 10 years if prosecuted by indictment.

Drug offences

• Simple possession of Schedule I substances (including cocaine and fentanyl) can be prosecuted by indictment with a maximum of 7 years, or by summary conviction with lower maximums.

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking in Schedule I substances carries some of the most serious potential outcomes under the CDSA, including the possibility of life imprisonment on indictment.

Administration of justice / other offences

• Breach of probation: up to 4 years if prosecuted by indictment.

• Breach of release order (bail): up to 2 years if prosecuted by indictment.

• Obstructing/resisting a peace officer: up to 2 years if prosecuted by indictment.

• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000: up to 10 years if prosecuted by indictment.

Why It Matters Locally

Thunder Bay has seen ongoing community concern around repeat offending, dangerous driving, and the presence of high-risk opioids. Cases involving alleged fentanyl trafficking and major seizures typically become priority prosecutions because of their broader public safety impact.

The Last word: Thunder Bay hit-and-run probe leads to ROPE arrest, cash and fentanyl, cocaine, meth seizures.