Nanaimo RCMP eventually apprehended the driver of a truck which side-swiped multiple police vehicles during a late-night spree through downtown Nanaimo on Monday, March 15. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

DRIVING SPREE

Multiple Nanaimo RCMP vehicles damaged, man tasered during late-night rampage

Mar 16, 2021 | 2:35 PM

NANAIMO — A local man is accused of causing thousands of dollars in damage to four police vehicles following a late night rampage through Nanaimo’s downtown.

Nanaimo RCMP said the situation began near the Terminal Ave. and Comox Rd. intersection when a marked vehicle was side-swiped around 11:45 p.m. on Monday, March 15.

The officer who was hit was attending an unrelated call with lights and sirens on and alerted other officers of the vehicle’s description.

“There were no other vehicles on the road, there was no reason the officer could see that the individual would side-swipe him,” Cst. Gary O’Brien said.

A second officer spotted the vehicle a short time later driving near the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at Prideaux St. and Fitzwilliam St.

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The vehicle appeared to drive deliberately into two police vehicles parked outside the detachment before hitting the side of a nearby building. The officer used their vehicle to pin the suspect’s car against the building’s wall.

“The suspect driver was actually spinning the tires aggressively trying to get out. Recognizing it was futile, he got out and charged at the police officer,” Cst. O’Brien said. “After several deployments of the taser, pepper spray and a struggle, he finally got him under control.”

The officer’s taser was used twice. O’Brien said it failed the first time due to movement by the suspect and the layers of clothing he was wearing.

“It’s a level of force used if someone is extremely combative and the officer fears if they don’t do something they could be looking at grievous bodily harm.”

A 57-year-old man from Nanaimo faces multiple driving-related charges and appeared in court on Tuesday, March 16.

Charges have not been laid as of Tuesday afternoon.

He is well known to police, as Nanaimo RCMP noted several interactions were related to mental health.

O’Brien said a trend has emerged recently of endangering police officers and destruction of property in Nanaimo and across the province.

“Sometimes they are being targeted by individuals who either want to cause harm to them or destroy their property. It’s extremely dangerous and our officers have to be switched on 24/7 when they’re on the road.”

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