A violent offender has been arrested after trying to steal several vehicles and leading Halton police on a high speed chase.

Just before midnight, Halton police were doing routine licence plate checks in the Best Western parking lot on Queensway Drive in Burlington. They discovered one vehicle whose owner had a number of warrants out for his arrest.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and lead police on a pursuit. A spike belt was put down near Walkers Line and South Service rd. but the driver managed to avoid it.

Police say the suspect then went to a Ford Dealership on Walkers Line and tried to rob an employee of their car keys. He was unsuccessful and got back in his vehicle where he proceeded to drive the wrong way down the QEW exit ramp. He collided with another vehicle where he tried to steal the car keys from the driver but was denied.

The suspect then fled to another nearby hotel where he robbed a hotel employee of their keys. He wasn’t able to drive away, so police say he ran to a nearby ravine and covered himself with mud and leaves. The K9 unit was able to sniff him out minutes later.

29-year-old Nathan Howes of Brantford faces a number of charges, including robbery and flight from police. He was wanted in Brantford for weapons charges, assault, and unlawful confinement.