The theft of a cooler early Thursday morning in Abbotsford led to a collision with an unmarked police vehicle and charges being recommended against the driver.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the incident began at about 3 a.m., when a resident reported that a cooler had been stolen by possibly three people from his property in the vicinity of Marshall and Gladwin roads, and the culprits had fled in a dark Chrysler 300.
About 45 minutes later, an Abbotsford Police supervisor in an unmarked police SUV spotted a vehicle matching the description in the downtown core.
The officer saw the car quickly back out of a parking stall, and followed it as it headed north on Montrose Avenue and east on George Ferguson Way, where a train was blocking the road.
MacDonald said the driver then made an abrupt U-turn and collided head-on with the police car as it was turning onto George Ferguson.
The 24-year-old male driver, who was the only occupant in the car at the time, was suspected to be impaired, but refused to provide a breath sample, MacDonald said.
The man's driver's licence was suspended for 90 days, the car was impounded for 30 days, and a criminal charge of dangerous driving has been recommended.