NEPEAN – Ottawa police recovered a stolen vehicle in Nepean Sunday (Jan. 3) with a drunk driver at the wheel.

“A frontline patrol officer observed a vehicle driving erratically on Strandherd Drive on Sunday, Jan. 3 at approximately 1 a.m.,” the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) released in a statement today (Jan. 4). “The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it drove away at a high rate of speed.”

Another officer observed the same vehicle do a U-turn and drive off at a high rate of speed on Woodroffe Avenue.

“A third officer located the vehicle and followed it into a residential area,” the OPS said.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with a snowbank.

“When the officer exited the police vehicle to arrest the driver, the driver reversed into the police vehicle before fleeing on foot,” the OPS said. “The driver was arrested nearby after a short foot pursuit.”

Further investigation revealed the plates and the vehicle were stolen.

Ryan Fulton, 49 of Ottawa, was charged with:

• Dangerous operation of a conveyance
• Impaired operation of a conveyance
• Flight from peace officer
• Operation of a conveyance while prohibited
• Two counts of possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000
• Possession of a Schedule I substance
• Breach of probation
• Failure to comply with a release order

Fulton was scheduled to appear in court yesterday.