WINNIPEG — For the second time in less than two weeks, a driver of a stolen car has deliberately tried to injure a Winnipeg pedestrian, police say.

Sgt. Kelly Dennison released few details Monday of what happened early Saturday and urged reporters to use restraint so as not to encourage copycats.

"We don't want this glorified in any way, shape or form,'' Dennison said.

"Be cautious about what it is that you're putting out there, and what effect that is going to have on a bunch of 13- to 16-year-olds.''

Dennison explained that a stolen vehicle rammed two police cars in separate locations Saturday and ended up crashing into a utility pole. At some point, the car also took a deliberate run at someone.

Dennison did not comment on reports that someone inside the vehicle opened a door as the car approached pedestrians and knocked to the ground a 17-year-old girl, who suffered shoulder and elbow injuries.

A 49-year-old jogger suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a stolen car earlier this month.

Police say they are worried some Winnipeggers may be scared off the streets.

"We have had a couple of isolated incidents,'' Dennison said. "I don't want the public to think that this is something that's going on every minute of every hour of every day here in the City of Winnipeg.''

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in the latest case and faces charges that include dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, and assault with a weapon.

Three teens were arrested in the earlier incident.

Police will divulge few details of such crimes from now on, Dennison said, to minimize the chances of young people mimicking the auto thefts.

Police have used a similar approach with gangs in recent years, Dennison said. By refusing to name gangs suspected in crimes, the number of copycats who commit crimes to boost their image or to affiliate themselves with the gangs has dropped.

"What is going on is wrong. It's criminal. It's serious,'' he said.

"And to glorify it in any sick way is just simply wrong.''