Two police chases last weekend result in arrests
By Castlegar Source
Castlegar RCMP can brag about two successful chases – one in vehicles and one on foot – last weekend that led to arrests and jail time, according to top cop Sgt. Laurel Mathew.
“On Aug. 22 at approximately 4:30 p.m, Castlegar RCMP members were alerted to an erratic driving complaint involving a truck coming from the Grand Forks area,” she said. “The truck had been reported stolen out of Alberta.
“When Castlegar officers activated their emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the vehicle, the driver began driving at dangerous speeds, going into oncoming traffic, so the officers did not pursue the vehicle. A short time later, the vehicle was seen on the Bombi, and again when officers activated their emergency equipment, the vehicle sped off at dangerous speeds and the officers backed off.”
She said a spike belt was set up on the east side of the Bombi, and the suspect truck struck the belt but kept driving at high speeds, even though the front tire was flat.
“A second spike belt was set up and the truck struck that one as well, but kept driving until the rubber on the tires was completely disintegrated and it was driving on rims,” she added. “The driver eventually lost control and went into the ditch on Hwy 3 near Wildwood Lane. The driver fled into the woods on foot, but the two passengers were apprehended near the crash scene. The passengers, a 20-year-old female and an 18-year-old male, were subsequently released from police custody. Police are requesting a warrant of arrest for the 22-year-old male driver.”
Mathew said all three of the people involved were from Alberta.
The following day saw a similar issue involving a stolen truck.
“In an unrelated matter, on Aug. 23, Castlegar RCMP were responding to a suspicious vehicle complaint on 21st Street and, when they ran the license plate, they learned that the vehicle had been stolen out of Alberta,” Mathew said. “The vehicle was unoccupied at the time, however a male believed to have been driving the vehicle was located in a yard. As the officer was placing the male under arrest, the male turned and ran away on foot.
“He ran around a corner and through a shrub and struck a pole, which knocked him down. He was taken into custody and charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and Obstructing a Police Officer. Twenty-five-year-old Nathan Sonoda from Alberta appeared in court on Aug. 25 and pled guilty, receiving four months in jail and one year probation.”
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