A man from Monkton is facing criminal charges after flagging down the wrong vehicle.
Police were alerted Monday morning about a van that had been stolen from the parking lot of an auto dealership on Downie St. S in Stratford.
The van was later spotted in the Hensall area, filling up with gas. The gas station owner recognized the van belonging to a friend and gave chase. But the driver lost control and crashed the van into a ditch.
Seeing the gas station attendant approaching, the man waved down an approaching motorist and claimed he was being chased by an unknown man.
It turns out the motorist was an OPP officer in an unmarked cruiser heading to the gas station regarding the stolen van.
A 25-year-old Monkton man was arrested and charged with numerous criminal charges including theft of a motor vehicle and theft of gas.
