Police hunted for 25-year-old Clayton Solberg on Tuesday, Aug. 24 after he allegedly pointed a weapon at people from his car. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

dangerous driving

Driver pointing gun out car window sparks multi-hour search across Oceanside region and Nanaimo

Aug 31, 2021 | 9:43 AM

NANAIMO — A series of illegal incidents led to a crash in Nanaimo and a Qualicum Beach man being arrested.

Oceanside RCMP said Clayton Solberg, 25, first came to their attention on Tuesday, Aug. 24 around 5 p.m. when they received two separate reports involving the car Solberg was allegedly driving.

First, someone called police saying Solberg in a black Honda Civic had pointed a firearm at them at a Parksville intersection.

Shortly after, someone in the black Honda Civic reportedly used bear spray on a man at the Orange Bridge in Parksville.

Both the Oceanside RCMP and BC Highway Patrol scoured the area to find Solberg.

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Later at around 7:20 p.m. a BC Highway Patrol motorcycle officer saw the Civic driving south at 128 kilometres per hour in the 90 kilometres per hour zone near the Nanoose Bay rest stop on Hwy. 19.

The officer gave chase and eventually found the car involved in a crash in Nanaimo near Capilano Rd.

Both the firearm in the first incident and the bear spray were found in the car, police said. Solberg allegedly failed a breath sample before being taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Solberg faces two charges of assault with a weapon and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, as well as a 90-day driving prohibition.

He was released on bail with several conditions.

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