Prince George, B.C.- It took  less than 10 minutes, but   what started as an  attempt by the RCMP to pull over a  red Sunfire in Prince George,  ended up  with ‘Azar’ putting the bite on  crime.

Around 1 on Tuesday December  15th,  RCMP  tried to pull over  a  vehicle on Upland Street.  The driver of the  red Pontiac Sunfire  failed to  stop and  drove through  the stop sign at  Upland and Ferry .    On Ferry, the  vehicle dangerously passed a truck on the right hand side.

While police were  following,  due to the  erratic  behaviour of the  driver behind the wheel of the Sunfire,  the officer deactivated the police  lights and siren and pulled over.

The Sunfire continued on  towards Queensway.

A short time later the suspect vehicle collided with a full size pick-up truck, but despite being  badly damaged, the Sunfire  kept on  rolling.

Police reengaged emergency equipment.

The suspect drove onto Moyie Street towards Village Avenue, crossed a residential front lawn, and collided with some boulders.  The Sunfire continued to travel at a slow rate of speed along Village Avenue towards Norwood Street.  The driver went straight through the stop sign and into another front yard hitting a snowbank.  The suspect was able to free the vehicle and continue onto Norwood Street northbound towards a dead end.  The driver accelerated towards a cement barrier at the end of the street.  The vehicle struck the barrier and came to rest on top.

A male suspect got out of the care,  refused to comply with police  and  there was a struggle.   According to police,  the suspect  appeared to be reaching  for something in his pocket.

A Police Dog Service team arrived on scene and  Police Service Dog  ‘Azar’ was deployed to assist.   The suspect was handcuffed a short time later.  The suspect was taken to the University Hospital of Northern BC for treatment of minor bite wounds.

Police seized two knives, methamphetamine, heroin, a significant sum of cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia, ammunition, a loaded pellet gun, break & enter tools and two homemade weapons as part of this  investigation.

The driver of the pick-up truck and the officers on scene were not injured.

40 year old Neil Romeo Joseph Hamel of Prince George resident, has been charged by Provincial Crown Counsel with the following Criminal Code offences:

• Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
• Fail to Stop for Police
• Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose (2 counts)
• Resist Arrest
• Possession of Ammunition Contrary to Order
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Hamel  was to appear in court  late this afternoon.