A suspect arrested for carjacking on Monday was also arrested for a similar incident the day before.
On Monday, April 22nd, VicPD arrested a man following a carjacking and a series of vehicle collisions in Victoria.
The incident began at approximately 11:50 a.m. when VicPD received a call from a woman who reported being pushed while entering her black Tesla in the 1000-block of Johnson Street.
The suspect, Seth Packer, then drove away in her vehicle.
As Packer fled the scene, he struck another vehicle at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and Doncaster Drive in Saanich.
Samantha Jeffers Agar wrote on social media, saying, “The black Tesla that caused the collision almost killed my husband a few minutes before at the Shelbourne and Hillside intersection, where it went through a red light at top speed. My husband said if he hadn’t stopped when he did (he was waiting to turn left), he would be dead.”
After that close call, Packer continued southbound, causing another collision shortly after, before abandoning the vehicle at the intersection of Cook Street and Finlayson Street.
The people involved in the collisions sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Packer then attempted to steal another vehicle nearby. He was confronted by bystanders who heard a neighbour cry out for help and saw Packer sitting in the driver’s seat of the neighbour’s vehicle.
The bystanders were able to detain him until police arrived and arrested him.
According to VicPD, Packer was arrested the day before, on Sunday, April 21st, for attempting to steal an occupied vehicle in the 2900-block of Shelbourne Street.
He was charged with attempted theft of a motor vehicle and released with conditions.
Packer now faces multiple charges, including two counts of robbery, one count of theft of a motor vehicle, one count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and one count of failing to comply with conditions.
He is currently in custody pending a future court appearance.
VicPD explained that he was released the day prior due to Bill C-75, which requires police to release an accused person as soon as possible while considering factors such as the likelihood of the person appearing in court, the immediacy of the risk to public safety, and the impact on public confidence in the criminal justice system.
