Driver Eludes Police Despite Spike Belt
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 @ 3:49 PM
Prince George, B.C.- RCMP are looking for the driver of a Dodge Dakota pick up that failed to stop for a roadside check this afternoon in Prince George.
Just before noon today a Prince George RCMP Traffic Services officer tried to conduct a roadside check on a vehicle believed to be traveling in excess of the speed limit on Highway 16, East of Prince George, BC.
The officer was running radar on Highway 16 near the Prince George Regional Correction Centre, when he observed an east bound vehicle traveling in excess of the 70 kilometre per hour speed limit. The officer activated the emergency equipment on the fully marked police vehicle and tried to pull the older grey Dodge Dakota pick-up truck over.
The driver didn’t stop.
The driver slowed and turned onto Graves Road and then Blackburn Road in the Blackburn area. The suspect driver then began to speed up and was driving erratically. The officer pulled over and disengaged the emergency equipment in order to maximize public safety.
A few minutes later, another officer located the same vehicle north bound on Old Cariboo Highway approaching Highway 16. The suspect turned west bound on Highway 16, heading into Prince George. The officer activated the emergency equipment on the fully marked police vehicle and tried to pull the vehicle over. Once again the vehicle did not stop.
In an effort to prevent the vehicle from driving into the City, a spike belt was put in place on Highway 16 near Pickering Road. Three of the vehicle’s tires were destroyed by the spike belt. Even though the vehicle was now driving on three metal rims, the driver continued into Prince George at a much reduced rate of speed. The vehicle went west on 1st Avenue to Carney Street and then turned south on Carney Street with police vehicles following. Police officers discontinued the pursuit as the suspect vehicle was approached the intersection of 15th Avenue.
Minutes later, the suspect vehicle was located abandoned on Willow Street between 20th Avenue and Bowser Street. The RCMP’s Police Dog Service attended the area in an effort to track the suspect driver, believed to be the only person in the vehicle. The suspect was not located and no description has been obtained.
The rear license plate did not match the vehicle and was registered in Fraser Lake, BC. The vehicle was last registered in the lower mainland and has not been reported stolen.
The Prince George RCMP’s Forensic Identification Service attended the scene and gathered evidence.
This investigation is continuing.
Comments
WOW! In rough numbers that is a approximately 20km of car chase through both rural and city areas. I would like to believe that in 20kms the RCMP could have ‘ GOT THEIR GUY ‘
I might consider taking a run for it the next time the red and blue lights show up behind me!
Just kidding folks – don’t beat me up!
I like that the cops stop the chase if they think the suspect might not have any concern for other drivers on the road.
Why if he was on 3 rims did they not use the P.I.T. manouver before he got off of 1st ave .He could not have been traveling all that fast that they could not safely have pulled this off . Just an opinion , I did not witness the event.
That is how they are trained. Even watching the US cop show they stop pursuit if they feel it will endanger the public.
I passed by the vehicle on 1st avenue right before Carney. There was a trail of 6-7 marked police vehicles following behind. While the vehicle was travelling slightly higher than the speed limit, I think they could have pulled off the PIT takedown without endangering anyone too badly. They wouldn’t have to flip the vehicle, as it was running on rims, I think a push off the side of the road should have been enough.
Nobody hurt, no accidents, sounds like it all ended well. Probably pick up the goof soon enough, all is well.
And for some folks who watch way to much TV, you gotta be there to understand it….
PIT?
This was a pick up. In reading up on the description of the technique it states:
“The PIT is especially hazardous when the vehicles’ bumpers are of significantly different heights, or against target vehicles with a high center of gravity”
I think both conditions identified above likely applied.
It was an older Dakota Pick up truck, if performed correctly the cruisers bumper pushing into the rear fender area of the vehicle it should have come to a controlled spinout and stop. Now this guy is running free in the city to possibly steal another vehicle and do it again , this time possibly injuring or killing an innocent victim. Just stating the fact.
If this guy is caught I sure hope he gets more than one day in jail and his license suspended for more than six months. If he has one. That oughta teach him.
One shotgun blast with a slug through the rad and block and that car wont go far.
And what if did have somebody in the truck with him,(abducted minor for instance)we just let him get away!pathetic if you ask me,
He should have been waiving a stapler…maybe then things would have been different!
PG Cops are funny-Can’t even catch a person
(not sure if male or female)while they have 3 blown tires and followed by a line of Cop cars and a Cop Dog.
Maybe they did not want to have to do all the paperwork involved with damaging a cruiser.
metalman.
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