THUNDER BAY – NEWS – Thunder Bay Police Service is asking for the public’s help to identify a man linked to a Traffic Unit investigation after an officer was allegedly driven at during a traffic stop in the city’s south core. The incident matters locally because police say it raised immediate public safety concerns and involved a stolen vehicle moving through busy Thunder Bay streets.
Police say driver reversed toward officer before fleeing
Police said the incident happened Feb. 28, 2026, while officers with the Primary Response Unit were on patrol in the Simpson Street area.
According to police, officers saw a bright blue Dodge pickup truck leaving a business parking lot with invalid licence plates. Investigators determined the plate was not authorized for that vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on Walsh Street East.
Police allege that as an officer approached the pickup, the driver put the vehicle in reverse and drove toward the officer at a high rate of speed before fleeing the scene.
No officers were physically injured, police said.
The truck was found a short time later in a snowbank near Arthur Street East and Syndicate Avenue South. Police said the driver had already fled and that further investigation determined the pickup had been stolen.
Suspect description released
Police are looking to identify the driver, described as a white male between 25 and 35 years old.
Investigators have warned the public not to approach the individual if seen. Instead, police are asking anyone who spots the suspect to call 911.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Thunder Bay Police Service at 807-684-1200. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through its online tip service.
Why this matters in Thunder Bay
The case touches on several ongoing public safety issues in Thunder Bay, including stolen vehicles, risky driving and the danger faced by front-line officers during traffic stops. The Simpson Street and Arthur Street East corridors are heavily travelled parts of the city, and police warnings about not approaching the suspect suggest investigators believe there is a continuing safety concern.
For Thunder Bay residents, the case is also a reminder that seemingly routine traffic enforcement can quickly escalate, especially when stolen vehicles or unauthorized plates are involved.
Criminal Code context
Police have not announced charges in this case, and no individual has been publicly identified. If charges are laid, the exact offences would depend on the evidence gathered by investigators and the Crown.
Based on the allegations described by police, offences sometimes considered in cases i
nvolving a vehicle driven toward an officer can include assault with a weapon or assaulting a peace officer under the Criminal Code, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police and possession of property obtained by crime in relation to an alleged stolen vehicle.
Dangerous operation is covered under Section 320.13 of the Criminal Code. Assault with a weapon is addressed under Section 267, while assaulting a peace officer is addressed under Section 270. Possession of property obtained by crime is covered under Section 354. Flight from police is addressed under Section 320.17.
Penalties vary depending on the exact charge, the facts proven in court and whether the Crown proceeds summarily or by indictment. Sentences can range from fines, probation and driving prohibitions to custodial terms, with more serious penalties available where there is violence, a risk to public safety or prior criminal history.
Any person identified or charged in connection with this investigation would be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigation continues
Thunder Bay Police Service said the investigation remains ongoing as officers work to identify the suspect.
Public appeals of this kind are typically issued when investigators believe community assistance may help identify a suspect quickly and reduce possible risk to the public.
