A dramatic car chase through Victoria and Saanich on Monday night concluded with police employing a maneuver to immobilize the suspect vehicle.
The incident began around 8:50 p.m. July 29th when VicPD responded to a reported break-in at a business on Summit Avenue. Upon arrival, officers spotted a man inside the building who then stole a vehicle and fled the scene.
According to police, the suspect drove recklessly, narrowly missing an officer and striking a metal fence, which was propelled into oncoming traffic on Douglas Street. The vehicle continued northbound out of sight.
Shortly thereafter, a member of the public reported the suspect’s dangerous driving. An Integrated Canine Service (ICS) unit soon located the stolen vehicle in a parking lot on Finlayson Street.
When officers attempted to block the vehicle, police said the suspect rammed the cruiser and fled again.
As the vehicle continued to pose a significant danger, police decided to initiate a pursuit.
At around 9:45 p.m., on Oak Street in Saanich, two VicPD vehicles purposely made contact with the suspect’s car, successfully disabling it.
The suspect attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers. The arrest required several officers due to the suspect’s resistance, but no injuries were reported during the process.
Victoria Buzz obtained video footage of the arrest near Oak Street, which shows one officer apprehending the suspect and taking him to the ground before additional officers arrived to assist in the arrest.
One officer sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The suspect remains in custody and is expected to appear in court this afternoon.
No other details were released. The Independent Investigations Office said they are not investigating the incident.
