Suspect in stolen vehicle hits and injures Nelson RCMP officer
A suspect driving a stolen vehicle in Salmo tried to escape arrest by driving through a police roadblock and hitting an RCMP officer.
On Jan. 9, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. a stolen Toyota Tundra was spotted by a frontline officer in Salmo BC.
When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle on Railway Street, it immediately fled at high speed toward Nelson. The officer did not pursue because of public safety concerns.
Instead, a road block was set up by multiple officers between Salmo and Nelson. However, the stolen vehicle collided with three police vehicles and continued to drive dangerously towards Nelson.
In the collision, an officer was also hit while standing outside his patrol vehicle. He was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and was later released.
After the collision, officers attempted to use a spike belt to stop the suspect. Several civilian vehicles accidentally drove over it, resulting in damage but no injuries.
The Toyota Tundra was later found abandoned near the Nordic Ski Club.
With help from a civilian and his snowmobile, officers were able to successfully locate and arrest the suspect.
The suspect, a 42-year-old man from Trail, was held in custody pending a bail hearing. Currently several charges, including assaulting a police officer, are being recommended to the BC Prosecution Service.
“This was a highly dangerous and volatile situation, and we’re thankful no member of the public was harmed by this man’s reckless behaviour,” RCMP spokesperson Cpl. James Grandy said in a press release.
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