Updated: OPP Continue Unspecified 'Incident' Investigation East of Owen Sound
OPP are mostly mum so far on an active incident despite widespread reports of a police chase and ground search that closed roads Sunday evening.
Grey Bruce OPP released the following update at 11:45 p.m.: Residents can expect to see increased police activity at the intersection of Grey Road 11 and Grey Road 15 and between Highway 26 and Story Book Park Road.
As a precaution, residents are encouraged to lock their homes and vehicles. If you notice any suspicious activity, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or call 911.
This is an active investigation in its early stages. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
OPP released a second update at 12:10 a.m. on Monday, April 14, adding only that “all (police) resources have since cleared.” They noted it is still an active investigation, and that more information will be released as it is available.
Previously published:
OPP West Region posted a notice on Facebook Sunday evening warning the public to expect an increased police presence in the area of Highway 26 and Grey Road 11. The post made just before 8 p.m. asked community members to avoid the area.
Police hadn’t posted an update by 10:30 p.m. However, several residents had taken to social media by then with various accounts of what appeared to be a police chase followed by a ground search.
We followed up with two local men driving on Highway 26, each of whom told The Owen Sound Current they saw headlights on the fairway at Scenic City Golf Course after the OPP notice went out. One identified the vehicle as a police cruiser.
One person attempting to return to their home was still stopped at a police barricade on Grey Road 11 near Sideroad 15 at 9:40 p.m.
Prior to the OPP West Region notification, community members noticed an increased police presence on Grey Road 17.
One woman, whose identity we agreed not to publish, said she was driving south on Grey Road 17 around 6 p.m. when she met a police vehicle heading north with lights on at Grey Road 17A. The police vehicle stopped to block the intersection of 17 and 17A, the woman reported.
She told The Owen Sound Current she continued south toward Vault Works Road, but soon noticed “dust flying” in a field and encountered an SUV speeding up a laneway towards the road.
“There were three cars coming toward me, and this SUV cut the first one off and was behind me,” she said. “Then they passed me on the blind hill and slammed on the brakes to turn left on Vault Works Road, heading east into town.”
Police have not confirmed whether the incidents on either side of Owen Sound are connected.
When reached by phone at 10:20 p.m., a representative for the Ontario Provincial Police said they had nothing to add to what had been released on their official Facebook.