A 27-year-old man is in big trouble following an impaired driving investigation that started in St. John’s and ended on the Southern Shore.

RNC received a report around 3:30 Wednesday about a suspected impaired driver on Waterford Bridge Road.

The suspect vehicle, a two-door older model Lincoln Mark VII, was located parked in a lot off Waterford Bridge Road.

As police pulled into the lot, the man got out, spoke with the officer briefly, then jumped back in his vehicle, and sped away from the scene.

His car struck the officer’s cruiser, rendering it undrivable. RNC confirmed the identity of the driver and notified RCMP.

An hour later Ferryland RCMP received a report of a damaged car matching the description of the vehicle in question, parked at the Ultramar in Cape Broyle, with smoke coming from underneath.

Officers from the Ferryland and Holyrood detachments as well as Dog Services launched a search for the driver who was located by Police Services Dog, Kaos hiding in bushes.

Clarence Cantwell is facing charges including assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a vehicle, assaulting a peace officer, obstruction of justice and breach of probation.