Man faces charges after driving through busy playground, splash pad in Ajax: police

Man faces charges after driving through busy playground, splash pad in Ajax: police

No injuries reported even though walking paths and other amenities were 'filled with pedestrians'

An Aurora man is facing two charges after allegedly driving through an Ajax park that was full of pedestrians earlier this month, Durham police say.

The incident happened at around 6:25 p.m. on July 18, police said in a news release Monday. Officers were called about a white Toyota sedan driving dangerously through Rotary Park at 177 Lake Driveway West.

A 23-year-old Aurora man has been charged with dangerous operation and failing to stop for police.

"The suspect vehicle drove through the playground, splash pad, and walking paths which were filled with pedestrians, including young children," the news release reads.

Officers attempted to stop the car in the area of Westney Road S. and Bayly Street W., but the driver sped off, police said.

The car then returned to the park a second time and drove along a pedestrian bridge on the waterfront trail before driving away again, according to investigators.

Officers located the vehicle in the area of Harwood Avenue S. and Bayly Street E. and attempted to box the driver in. The man then collided with a GMC SUV while trying to evade police, the news release says, before he was taken into custody.