5 northwestern RCMP BC detachments work together to catch a suspect

RCMP from five northwestern BC detachments had to work together to catch a suspect wanted for a series of thefts that began Monday in Smithers and ended more than six hours, and several crashes later in Burns Lake.

Corporal Madonna Saunderson says it started with the theft of a white Ford F150 pickup truck in Terrace but police weren't alerted until the alleged suspect left that vehicle in Smithers and made off in a black truck before abandoning it in favour of another Ford pickup, this one possibly stowed with firearms and other weapons.

Over the next several hours, one stolen trucks was crashed in Houston, another pick-up was stolen, and members from the Burns Lake, Fraser Lake and Houston detachments joined their counterparts from Terrace and Smithers in tracking the man.

He was eventually taken into custody near Burns Lake, but not before stealing a snowmobile, driving it full speed at approaching officers and then veering off to climb into a plow truck that was used to ram two police cruisers before the 38 year old Prince George man was finally arrested at gun point.

No one was seriously hurt but, not surprisingly, drugs suspected to be methamphetamine were seized at the scene and various charges are now being considered.