Man nearly runs over VicPD officers while fleeing traffic stop, police say
The Victoria Police Department says two officers needed to "leap" out of the way of a large pickup truck after the driver tried to flee from them on Friday.
Police say the incident occurred just after 4 p.m. when bike patrol officers were told by motorists that a parked car was blocking traffic along Dallas Road.
The bike officers went to the area, around the 300-block of Dallas Road, and found that a pickup truck with a camper attached to the bed was indeed blocking the northbound lanes of the street, according to VicPD.
Police began searching for the driver and were told by a witness that the driver had left the area and the truck had been parked there for about two hours.
'RAPIDLY REVERSED'
During this time, police say that the bike officers noticed a person filming them from across the street with their phone.
A few minutes later, the individual approached them and asked if they could help direct traffic so that they could leave.
The officers instead told the driver that they were going to be detained for investigation, but the person refused. The driver then got into their truck and "rapidly reversed" towards the officers, forcing them to leap out of the way to safety.
The driver then drove away but was followed by the bike officers, who were providing updates on the truck's location to other VicPD officers.
FLEES AGAIN
The truck was later spotted by police in the 300-block of Douglas Street by Beacon Hill Park.
Officers activated their cruiser lights and siren and told the driver to pull over.
"The driver refused to stop and instead performed an unsafe overtake of a vehicle ahead," said police in a statement Monday.
"Given the presence of nearby pedestrians and the large number of people in the nearby park for Canada Day, the patrol officer did not pursue and radioed the truck’s last direction of travel to other officers," police said.
Later that day, police spotted the vehicle "driving erratically" on Blanshard Street.
Police say the truck turned left onto Pandora Avenue towards the inner harbour where some roads had been closed for Canada Day celebrations.
The truck eventually stopped in the 600-block of Pandora Avenue and was surrounded by VicPD vehicles. The driver was then removed from the truck and arrested.
They face recommended charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, assault with a weapon, and assaulting a police officer.
The driver has since been released from custody until his next court date.
Anyone with further information on the incident is asked to contact Victoria police at 250-995-7654.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.