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Suspect taken down by police car after threatening to kill Nanaimo RCMP officer

Mar 7, 2018 | 3:06 PM

NANAIMO — A suspect was hit by a police car and knocked to the ground after he pulled a knife on an officer and sparked a chase through a busy children’s play area.

The incident happened around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said the 33-year-old suspect, who was arrestable at the time, was discovered by an officer. O’Brien said they’ve run into the individual several times in the past and he’s “known for carrying weapons, extremely violent and unpredictable.”

When confronted, the accused allegedly pulled out a knife, threatened to kill the officer and took off running towards the Kinsmen Participark at Beban Park.

At that point, another officer arrived on scene.

“Taking all the factors into consideration, most importantly his own safety and that of the children, (the officer) struck the 33-year-old man with the front of his police car at a low speed,” O’Brien said, which knocked the accused onto the hood and then to the ground.

O’Brien said the suspect received only scrapes and bruises from the impact and was taken into custody after a visit to the hospital.

A woman at the park during the incident, who wished not to be identified, told NanaimoNewsNOW there were three or four other families at the Altrusa playground and a large group of children playing in the Participark. She said the man led police on a several-minute chase through the bushes before reappearing by Beban’s soccer fields and running towards the playground.

“The cops started screaming at us, saying ‘Run, leave the park, he has a weapon.’ I think they were trying to Tazer him and tackle him down. I just grabbed my kids and ran after that.”

The suspect is now facing multiple charges, including possession of a weapon and uttering threats.

 

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