VicPD are asking witnesses of a Canada Day car chase, which resulted in two officers almost being run over, to come forward.
Just after 4 p.m. on Friday, July 1st, Community Services Division (CSD) bike officers were conducting bike patrol in James Bay when they were flagged down by a motorist.
According to the motorist, a vehicle was improperly parked in the 300-block of Dallas Road and was impeding traffic.
VicPD responded to the scene where they located a large truck with a camper in the bed. The truck was improperly parked and was obstructing traffic in the northbound lane of Dallas Road.
Officers began to conduct traffic control and learned, from witnesses, that the vehicle had been parked there for approximately two hours and the driver had left the area.
A tow truck was then called to move the vehicle.
Soon, officers noticed a person standing across the street filming them on their phone. After several minutes, that person approached officers, identified themselves as the truck’s owner and requested that officers stop traffic so they could leave.
Officers informed the driver that they were being detained for an investigation.
The person disregarded the officers, entered the vehicle and started it.
He then put the vehicle into gear and rapidly reversed out of the parking stall toward officers, causing officers to leap out of the way to avoid being run over.
The driver then fled the area.
A short time later, an officer in the 300-block of Douglas Street spotted the vehicle, pulling in behind them and activating their siren.
Although the officer gave the driver of the truck directions to pull over, the driver refused to stop and dangerously overtook the vehicle ahead of him.
The officer did not pursue, instead radioing the truck’s last direction, as the downtown core was busy with pedestrians for Canada Day celebrations.
The vehicle was then spotted driving erratically on Blanshard Street, before turning left onto Pandora Avenue, heading in the direction of the road closure area for Canada Day celebrations at Ship Point.
The driver was forced to stop the vehicle in the 600-block of Pandora Avenue and was boxed in by responding VicPD patrol and Integrated Canine Service (ICS K9) officers.
The suspect was pulled from the truck and arrested. He was transported to VicPD cells and released with a future court date with recommended charges of assault with a weapon, assaulting a police officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who may have additional information, is asked to contact the VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
