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(Pattison Media)
RCMP

Dangerous driver arrested after hitting police officer

Feb 21, 2022 | 8:10 PM

RCMP in Salmon Arm had their hands full with a dangerous driver on Family Day, with one officer injured.

A Mountie located a vehicle and driver on 3rd St SW Monday afternoon. The driver was known to have a number of outstanding warrants for his arrest under the Criminal Code and Provincial Motor Vehicle Act.

“The officer attempted to block the vehicle from escaping the parking lot using a police vehicle. The suspect driver then backed into a fence after bumping the police car out of his way and struck the officer with the vehicle as he fled the parking lot,” said Staff Sgt. Scott West.

The vehicle was located a short time later near Christison and 50th St SW. The vehicle accelerated through a check point, leading to a spike belt being deployed which was successful in deflating the tires on the suspect vehicle.

“The suspect driver then continued to drive dangerously as he attempted to evade police on four disintegrating tires and eventually crashed into a ditch near Silver Creek where he resisted arrest but was taken into custody,” said West.

The police officer suffered minor injuries and resumed his duties after being check over at hospital

The suspect remains in RCMP custody and will appear before a judge on Feb. 222 in Salmon Arm, facing charges of assaulting a police officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a conveyance, and flight from police.

The driver is also facing nine additional arrest warrants involving various Provincial Motor Vehicle allegations as well as other criminal allegations which include driving while prohibited, resist arrest, and an additional charge of flight from police stemming from other interactions with police from 2020 and 2021.

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