Stolen minivan leads to charges

A Hamilton man is facing a number of charges after he stole a minivan outside the Sheraton Hotel, led police on a chase, and then blew over the legal limit.

It happened around 2:30 Sunday morning. Police say the Honda Odyssey owner left the minivan running when he went inside the hotel for a moment. Then police allege 23-year old Andrew Richardson jumped in the Honda with another man and drove away. The stolen minivan was spotted in the Market and Hess Street area and, when they tried to stop it, the driver sped up. The van eventually crashed into storefront on King Street just east of Queen. In addition to being charged with impaired, theft and flight from police, Richardson is also charged with possession under five thousand dollars.