Prince George- A 27 year old man has been charged with 16 criminal charges in connection with a crime spree which involved high speed get a ways from police on December 17^th.

 

On Dec 17^{th at} 11.00 police responded to a report of a male that appeared to be unresponsive while sitting in a parked vehicle on the 2900 block of 15^th Avenue. Officers attended, but the vehicle and driver were not located.

 

At approximately 12:30 PM, police responded to a second, similar report of a male unresponsive while sitting in a parked vehicle near 3^rd Avenue and Tofield Street. Police attended and attempted to speak with the occupant, who was awake and sitting in the driver’s seat. While approaching the running vehicle, the man accelerated and fled the area. No pursuit was engaged in order to maximize public safety.  

 

At approximately 1:30 PM, a third report was received, involving the same vehicle with a male asleep at the wheel in a parking lot on the 900 block of Ahbau Street. This time, several police officers attended and boxed in the vehicle before attempting to awaken the driver. Once again the driver was awoken and an arrest was attempted by an officer. The driver put the vehicle into reverse and collided with a police car as the police officer struggled to remove the driver from the car. The driver then attempted to flee forward colliding with another police car. The police car was pushed out of the way and the driver fled for a third time, but not before colliding with five parked vehicles. The officers were not injured in the incident. A pursuit was not engaged as the driver was identified to be a person well known to local police. The vehicle, a grey Oldsmobile Alero, was reported stolen later in the afternoon by the owner. The licence plates were also stolen from a similar vehicle and placed on this vehicle.

 

Just before midnight, a 27 year old Prince George man with a history of vehicle thefts and dangerous police pursuits was arrested as a passenger in another vehicle. Bear mace and a small quantity of marihuana were seized at the time of arrest. Officers believe that forensic evidence found on the suspect, will further support the investigation.

 

Paul Daniel Shaw appeared in court in Prince George on the afternoon of December 19^th facing 16 Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act charges approved by Provincial Crown Counsel. Some of those charges include:

·       Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle;

·       Assaulting a Police Officer;

·       Flight from Police;

·       Possession of a Weapon For a Dangerous Purpose;

·       Possession of Property Obtained by Crime;

·       Mischief (multiple);

·       Possession of a Controlled Substance.

 

Shaw has been remanded in custody until Jan 11^th, 2012.