A 17-year-old boy faces a raft of charges related to assault, carjacking and vehicle theft after a police chase involving a stolen SUV, in which two cruisers were rammed.

Police spotted a stolen Nissan Rogue around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday and started following it through the Windsor Park neighbourhood.

They tried to block it in on Fermor Avenue, but the Rogue rammed the cruisers and drove over a spike belt before speeding off, a police news release said on Friday.

The damaged Rogue was found abandoned on Cypress Bay and officers arrested a teen on Gatineau Bay after a brief foot chase, the release said. They also found a folding knife they allege he tossed away during the chase.

Police allege the teen is linked to 16 vehicle thefts in southeast Winnipeg between Dec. 3 and March 11.

In one case, on Dec. 8, the owner of a Kia Forte was hit by the vehicle while trying to stop the theft, police said. They did not provide any information on the extent of the injuries.

The teen is also accused of driving a stolen Hyundai Elantra that rammed two police cruisers on Feb. 7. The driver got away.

After the teen’s arrest, investigators searched his home and found keys for stolen vehicles and clothing that matched the suspect in surveillance videos, they said.

The teen faces a total of 68 charges: 16 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, six counts of assaulting police officers with a weapon, robbery (carjacking), two counts of flight from police, resisting arrest, two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle, break and enter with intent, theft under $5,000, possession of a weapon, mischief under $5,000, and 36 counts of failing to comply with prior release orders.

He remains in custody.