When two suspects tried to allegedly steal vehicles from a logging compound in Beaverly and escape across country, two witnesses didn't just watch them go.
The alleged thieves made off with a pickup pulling a trailer at about 7:30 a.m. Monday in the vicinity of Highway 16 West and the West Beaverly Road intersection. They headed across a farmer's field apparently trying to get away when they realized they'd been noticed.
"A member of the neighbourhood also drove across the field in pursuit and had effectively blocked the fleeing suspects with his vehicle," said Prince George RCMP media liaison officer Gary Godwin.
The suspects got out and ran. RCMP arrived soon after, set up a perimeter and got a police dog on the trail of the suspects.
The owner of the logging compound, Carl Kienzle of Eko Logging, said he was still learning the details about what happened but he was impressed with the bravery of the good Samaritans.
"It was on a neighbouring piece of property," Kienzle told The Citizen. "I don't know who all was involved, but the police dog followed the trail and found one guy in his hiding spot. The other guy ran to another property and it was raining so it was hard for the dog to catch up to him."
Godwin said investigators are still after the second suspect. The first is now in the court process, but not just for the vehicle left in the field.
"They [allegedly] tried to steal several vehicles and equipment there at our place," said Kienzle. "It's not nice, that's for sure. We don't know the value of the damage yet, we're still assessing that."
Godwin said at least seven different vehicles had signs of attempted theft, and damage was also done to a fifth-wheel holiday trailer. Investigators are still piecing together the property offenses that might be added to the suspect's list of charges.
SUSPECT IN FIELD OF VIEW
Steven James Sherman, 19
Facing 10 charges altogether
- mischief (six)
- break-and-enter (one)
- theft of vehicle (two)
- theft of trailer (one)
IT PAYS TO ARRIVE EARLY
Two employees of Eko Logging were due to arrive at the company's Beaverly equipment yard later on Monday morning but came at about 7:30 a.m. instead.
"There's three or four of us that work here and they [the suspects] must know when we work, but we just happened to get there early," said one of the two employees, whose names were not released. "They could have hit us big-time. They'd have had at least two pickups and the trailer if we'd been five more minutes."
The allegations follow that one pickup had already been removed from the Eko Logging property, several other vehicles had been tried, and a second vehicle was in motion when the two employees spotted the events unfolding. The pickup was pulling a trailer and on it was an assortment of power saws, winter tires and other items belonging to the logging crew.
"As soon as I seen them I dialed 911 and I drove to where we blocked the exit so they couldn't get past. I pursued to the point they had no exit. The only way out was through the woods and across a field," said one of the employees. "They went off across the field and got themselves stuck. From there they had about 200 yards to run into the woods, so once the dog and trackers got there, away they went. Twenty 20 minutes later, maybe half an hour, was all it took for the police to get there but they were no time catching up to him."
The case against Steven James Sherman now has to be proved in court, but whomever is responsible, "they aren't much for thieves," said the employees, based on the tactics used.
