A man was arrested in the city's downtown after allegedly brandishing a machete, attacking multiple people, stealing a car and driving dangerously through Nanaimo on Monday. (Submitted photo)

By Alex Rawnsley

violent spree

‘More than one criminal charge per minute:’ violent Nanaimo crime spree ends with downtown arrest

Sep 2, 2024 | 8:20 PM

NANAIMO — Local Mounties made a high-profile arrest in the downtown, after a violent and dangerous crime spree.

Police were called to the 2100 block of Duggan Rd. around 1:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 2 after a man in his 30s was seen brandishing a machete and smashing windows before stealing a vehicle.

Staff Sgt. Darwin Tetreault told NanaimoNewsNOW the man used the machete on the vehicle’s owner, causing a serious, but not life threatening, slash on the victim’s head before speeding away towards Northfield Rd., then onto Bowen Rd., the Island Hwy., and eventually into downtown.

“We flooded the area, responded to numerous calls from the public about the stolen vehicle driving erratically. He then crashed the car at the Wesley St. and Franklin St. intersection and fled from the vehicle.”

Officers tracked the man down to nearby Port Place Shopping Centre a short time later and arrested him.

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Tetreault said the suspect was apparently trying to continue their spree.

“He was trying to either steal a vehicle that was unoccupied or carjack a vehicle, that’s not exactly clear yet. We have a number of investigators out canvassing for video and witnesses.”

While charges have yet to be forwarded to Crown Counsel, meaning the offender cannot be named, Tetreault said he’s likely to at least face charges of assault causing bodily harm, mischief, theft of a vehicle, dangerous driving, flight from police and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public.

He added the lead investigator on the file from the Serious Crimes Unit said the suspect’s 30 minute crime spree is “going to end up probably being more than one criminal charge per minute.”

The suspect remains in custody and was wanted on a breach of probation warrant at the time of the incident Monday.

Tetreault said the suspect is a prolific offender with 11 interactions with the police so far this year and over 120 separate run-ins with officers since 2010.

“He’s probably going to remain in custody for some time, at least that’s what we hope,” Tetreault said. “We have approximately 20 investigators here on a long weekend working on this file. We’ve already spoken with a number of Crown Counsels respecting this crime spree and we’re fully engaged.”

More updates are expected on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Investigators have a number of search warrants that need to be acted on and continue to canvass the surrounding areas for security footage and to speak with witnesses.

Anyone who saw any of the incidents, or the vehicle driving through the city is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP.

“Dash cam on the Island Hwy. at about 2 p.m. in Nanaimo, either northbound or southbound on Northfield Rd. or Bowen Rd. or the point of the crash at Wesley at Franklin. Anyone that had to take some kind of evasive action to get out of the way, maybe hit the curb, crashed into a tree, whatever that wasn’t reported yet.”

Nanaimo RCMP officers can be reached at 250 754 2345.

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