A Leamington man has confessed to a bizarre criminal adventure that could have yielded a much more tragic outcome but ended in an arrest in a river after the youthful offender — at one point armed with a freshly stolen police assault rifle — was chased through Belle River streets and yards by police and residents.

The episode began early in the evening of Monday, July 3, 2023, when the man, then 21, was observed exiting his slow-moving GMC sport utility vehicle, westbound on Notre Dame Street, and then running off on foot.

A passerby jumped into the abandoned and still-moving SUV, brought it to a stop, and then made the first of what would be “numerous” 911 emergency calls to police.

The accused was observed running through back and front yards and entering multiple residences.

Accordi

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