St. Catharines Man Arrested After Fleeing Traffic Stop

On Monday, March 2, 2025, at approximately 2:00PM, a uniform officer with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) was in the area of Queenston Street and Ida Street in St. Catharines, when they observed a pickup truck being operated with plates that were not authorized for that vehicle.  The officer initiated a traffic stop and the driver fled on foot.

The driver, 40-year-old Joshua STEPHENS of St. Catharines, returned a short time later, was arrested and charged with the following Criminal Code (CC), Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA) offences.

• Flight From Police (CC)
• Fail to Comply with Release Order (CC)
• Use Plate Not Authorized (HTA)
• Driving While Under Suspension (HTA)
• Driver Fail to Surrender Licence (HTA)
• Fail to Surrender Permit for Motor Vehicle (HTA)
• Drive Motor Vehicle, No Currently Validated Permit (HTA)
• Fail to Apply for Permit on Becoming Owner (HTA)
• Obstruct Plate (HTA)
• Drive Motor Vehicle No Licence (HTA)
• Fail to Surrender Insurance Card (CAIA)
• Owner Operate Motor Vehicle on Highway – No Insurance (CAIA)

STEPHENS remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

The truck was towed and seized for 7 days.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Traffic Enforcement Unit at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009689.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

NRPS Incident 26-25564