Nanaimo RCMP have arrested a man who they allege to have broken windows, assaulted people and stolen a car—all while armed with a machete.
The incidents began occurring on Monday, September 2nd at around 1:45 p.m. in the 2100-block of Duggan Road.
“Witnesses reported that the male used the machete to break into one home, causing the homeowner to flee, broke into another home and was chased out by the residents,” said Nanaimo RCMP in a media release.
“The male then ran to Davies Road where he attacked and wounded a male in his driveway, chased the man and his wife, demanded the keys and then stole the car.”
Nanaimo RCMP added that the injured man was transported to Nanaimo Regional Hospital. Since the incident he has been treated and released.
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Police say that once the car was stolen, they began to receive a flurry of reports of the suspect driving at high speeds on Bowen Road before travelling southbound on the Island Highway.
At the intersection of Comox Street and Terminal Avenue, the car reportedly clipped the median, flew through the air and continued heading southbound on Terminal Avenue.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the driver lost control of the vehicle when he turned West onto Albert Street and he crashed at the intersection of Albert Street and Dunsmuir Street.
From there, he reportedly fled on foot and was next seen in the parking lot of the Port Place Mall on Commercial Street trying to break into vehicles and fighting with people in the parking lot.
Officers say they located the suspect at Port Place Mall, and were familiar with the suspect from previous encounters.
After being arrested, police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Christopher Bartos.
Officers charged Bartos with the following offences:
- Two counts of break and enter into a dwelling house
- Two counts of robbery
- One count of aggravated Assault
- One count of theft of a motor vehicle.
More charges may be forthcoming, according to Nanaimo RCMP.
Police say Bartos is currently in police custody and awaiting his bail hearing later this afternoon.
The investigation is ongoing. Further updates will be provided as they become available.
Anyone with video footage of the events on Duggan Place or in the Port Place Mall parking lot between 1:30 pm and 2:15 pm on September 2nd are being asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at (250) 754-2345.
