A Meaford man has been charged with a string of offences dating back to New Year's Eve.

Grey County OPP laid the charges against Matthew McQuarrie, 22, while he was in stiil custody for attempting to flee police in a stolen car on January 26.

Grey County OPP charged McQuarrie with several crimes committed prior to his arrest, including the theft of a cash register and a series of assaults.

Police say that on New Year's Eve, at about 8:45 p.m., a person entered the New Orleans Pizza outlet in Meaford and fled with the cash register while the clerks were preoccupied with other duties.

The suspect left the store on foot and ran off with the cash register, valued at about $1,800, and the undisclosed amount of cash it contained.

Then on Jan. 25, police say a man was at a Meaford residence with a group of people socializing and drinking, when at about 2 a.m., he punched another man with no apparent provocation.

According to an OPP press release, the victim,  20 years old, was thrown to the floor and repeatedly  kicked, kneed and drop-kicked.  Others who saw what occurred and tried to intervene were also assaulted.

In all, there were four victims ranging in age from 16 to 21 years.  All received some degree of injury, but, the victim who bore the brunt of the attack, had significant injuries including broken ribs, a broken nose and a possible concussion.

 A short time later, at about 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 26, police say a man stole a car and fled from a Grey County OPP officer who attempted to stop him in Meaford. The officer discontinued his attempt to stop the car when speeds became excessive, however, Collingwood OPP was alerted and managed to disable the vehicle using a spike belt just west of Collingwood.

The driver was arrested at that time and faced criminal charges in both Grey and Simcoe Counties related to that incident.

Police say McQuarrie was returned to Grey County following a period of incarceration related to the Simcoe County charges. He remains in custody at this time and is charged with multiple criminal charges including forcible confinement, assault causing bodily harm, three counts of common assault and two counts of theft.