Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
|
|
Thursday, 20 November 2008 |
A four-vehicle crash caused by a driver in the stolen brown SUV closed the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Highway 97 Thursday. The driver fled on foot and was caught in a house on Ruggles Street. Leaking gasoline covered the area. (Citizen photo by David Mah)
The incident started with a member of the RCMP noticing a man known to them who was behind the wheel of a vehicle on George Street. According to RCMP spokesman Const. Gary Godwin, the suspect did not have a valid driver's licence and the vehicle's plates did not match. One police vehicle was stationed immediately behind the suspect vehicle while at least one other officer advanced toward the vehicle on foot.
The suspect saw this and attempted to evade them, with serious results.
"First the suspect put his vehicle into reverse, slamming into the police vehicle parked behind, then the suspect lurched forward," Godwin said. "Our member on foot was struck by the suspect's vehicle. The suspect jumped the curb and got out that way, heading out of the downtown up Third Avenue towards the bypass."
The suspect was seen blowing through intersections, ignoring stop signs, as he fled.
"The suspect's vehicle was not pursued by police at any time, due to events unfolding so quickly, and we had an injured member," Godwin said. The officer was shortly discharged from hospital.
"When you're dealing with people who really decide they don't want to be caught, things can go so wrong so fast," said Godwin. "He could have easily been crushed into another car or run over completely."
While the hurt Mountie was taken to hospital, others in the area were called to take part in the search for the suspect. The search did not take long. At Fifth Avenue and the Bypass the suspect struck three other vehicles, causing significant damage, spilling fuel all over the road and taking out a light standard, but inflicting no significant injuries on any of the other motorists.
At the scene of the multi-car crash, the suspect fled the scene on foot, as did others from the vehicle.
Police arrested a 28-year-old female, an 18-year-old female and a 22-year-old female. The driver escaped but only temporarily.
"We were helped out by an alert public," Godwin said. "One very irate homeowner finally pinpointed him for us in the 300 block of Ruggles Street. He broke into the resident's house. We had the dog unit already in the area and they were the first to go in. A struggle ensued."
The suspect was injured in the altercation and taken to hospital with bite wounds. Several charges are pending against the 28-year-old Prince George man. Charges are also being contemplated against the others in the vehicle.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 November 2008 )
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
