Prince George RCMP are crediting the public's help for generating an additional charge against a woman arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing a minivan from a Prince George area home.
Thanks to tips the detachment received after a photo from a surveillance camera of her was made public last month, Holly Ann Sopel, 29, was also identified as the woman who allegedly made off with $75 worth of hair dye and razors from a local grocery store.
Sopel was apprehended shortly after the detachment received a report that a Honda Odyssey went missing from a Castle Road home, just off Highway 97 south of the city. Within minutes of the call, received at 8:30 p.m., RCMP spotted the vehicle on Queensway and it was pulled over near Third and George downtown.
The two men in the vehicle were arrested without incident but Sopel, who police said was behind the wheel, was aggressive and assaulted one of the officers, police said.
Sopel faces charges of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property, assault of a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer from the arrest and a charge of theft under $5,000 from the alleged shoplift.
Sopel was held overnight for a bail hearing on Friday afternoon.
As of Friday, charges have not been laid against the two men.
