A Prince George man is in custody following a string of vehicle thefts over two days stretching from Terrace to Burns Lake.
On Monday March 9, at 5:05 p.m., Smithers RCMP received report of a man on a bicycle had had stolen a black Ford F350. The suspect left behind a white Ford F250 that was reported stolen out of Terrace. The suspect was last seen speeding from the scene towards Telkwa.
Around 5:32 p.m. on the same day, the Ford F350 stopped in the Hungry Hill area. The suspect left the vehicle behind, allegedly stealing a Ford F150 and was headed towards Houston. It was also reported that there was the possibility of firearms and other weapons in this stolen Ford F150.
At 8:44 PM, same day, a man in a Ford F150 was chased away
by the owner of property in the 5200 Block of Highway 16 as the man in the truck was allegedly trying to steal items from there. The suspect left the Ford F150 behind and took a Chevy 3500. This vehicle was later involved in crash in Houston.
Less than an hour later a report was received of another vehicle theft. This time a two-tone grey and blue GMC 2500 was taken from the 4800 Block of Summit Lake Road.
Burns Lake RCMP and Fraser Lake RCMP were called to assist the police RCMP Detachments already involved.
At 11:27 p.m., Burns Lake RCMP members spotted the reported stolen vehicle in the parking lot of the local hospital. Police attempted to stop the suspect, but the suspect failed to stop and fled the area
On Tuesday March 10 at 12:15 a.m., a member located the stolen vehicle as it had crashed on Highway 16 west of Hawse Loop Rd.
A short time later, police were alerted to a nearby residence as someone was yelling that their snowmobile was being stolen. As police made their way to the residence, the stolen sled drove at a high rate of speed directly at the police, narrowly missing two police cars vehicles, fleeing down trails where the police vehicles could not go.
Approximately 10 minutes later a report was received that someone stole a Dodge plow truck from Bartlett Road, leaving a snowmobile behind. The plow truck was seen east bound on highway.
Police located the vehicle on Highway 16 near Cougar Road. The vehicle was stopped in the travel portion of Highway 16. As police positioned the police vehicles in a manner to prevent the suspect from fleeing, the suspect rammed one police vehicle and then reversed and rammed the second police vehicle.
Due to the possibility of firearms being present in one of the stolen vehicles, the suspect was arrested at gunpoint. The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Prince George remains in custody and could face numerous charges. During the arrest, police seized drugs, suspected to be methamphetamine.
The highway was closed to conduct the investigation but has since been reopened to single alternating traffic.
The suspect was taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the crash with non-life threatening injuries. He was later release to police custody.
A police officer was also treated for non-life threatening injuries sustained during the altercation.