A number of police chases occurred overnight in the metro region.

Police have thrown the book at a teenager who hit the gas instead of the brake when officers flashed the lights on him. RNC tried to stop the 17-year-old boy on Columbus Drive in St. John’s at about 9:00 last night but he took off. Officers caught up with him after a brief pursuit.

He has been charged with dangerous driving, flight from police, operating a vehicle without insurance and while suspended, and using a false identification marker.

He has also been charged with dangerous driving in relation to a separate incident which occurred a few days earlier. He will be in court today.

Meanwhile, another teenager is in custody after fleeing from police last night in Torbay at a high rate of speed.

RNC tried to pull him over at about 9:45 but the 15-year-old had different ideas. Officers abandoned the chase in the interest of public safety but after an investigation they charged the 15-year-old with dangerous driving and flight from police.

The car was impounded and the boy was held for court.

The RNC tried to pull over a vehicle on Columbus Drive last night at about 10:30 but the driver refused to stop and instead began travelling in the opposing lanes.

Given the dangerous actions of the operator, officers terminated the interception attempt. A short time later, they found the vehicle in a grassy field. It has been impounded but nobody has yet been arrested.

Police also seized a gun, ammunition, drugs and dug paraphernalia from a vehicle after a brief chase which began downtown St. John’s in the wee hours of the morning.

The driver stopped the car and fled on foot but was apprehended a short time later. The 45-year-old faces numerous charges including flight from police, impaired, driving while disqualified and obstructing a police officer. More charges pending as the Criminal Investigation Division wades through it all.