The suspect surrenders to Nanaimo RCMP in the downtown after a foot chase which followed a violent crime spree on Monday, Sept. 2. A 32-year-old Nanaimo man is facing multiple charges. (Kevan Shaw)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

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NANAIMO — Numerous serious charges have been approved against a prolific offender following a series of violent Labour Day incidents.

Christopher Douglas Bartos, 32, of Nanaimo allegedly assaulted a man in central Nanaimo with a machete before he was accused of stealing the victim’s vehicle from a Duggan Rd. driveway, located off Meredith Rd.

The vehicle then eventually sped to the downtown area, according to police, and a suspect was arrested following a foot chase near Port Place Shopping Centre.

Nanaimo RCMP began receiving calls at 1:45 p.m. regarding a male with a machete breaking windows and assaulting people. Witnesses reported the male broke into a home, causing the homeowner to flee, and broke into another home before being chased out.

“The male then ran to Davies Road where he attacked and wounded a male in his driveway, chased the man and his wife, demanded the keys and then stole the car. The man was transported to Nanaimo Regional Hospital, treated and released,” Cst. Sherri Wade stated in a news release.

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Wade said the suspect’s vehicle then sped to the downtown area, eventually crashing near Albert and Dunsmuir Streets, with the suspect running towards Port Place.

She said the suspect then began fighting with people near the centre while trying to steal another vehicle.

The suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.

On Tuesday, Sept. 3 the BC Prosecution Service approved six charges against Bartos: two counts of break and enter, aggravated assault, robbery, theft of motor vehicle and breach of release order.

He remains in custody.

Nanaimo RCMP hopes the public can help advance their investigation, including potential video footage from the events in the Duggan Rd. area or near Port Place Shopping Centre on Sept. 2 between 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at: 250-754-2345.

Court records showed Bartos was charged with break and enter and mischief for an alleged March 13 incident in Surrey.

Bartos was most recently released on bail on two occasions: June 20 and Aug. 26, court records showed.

Bartos has an extensive criminal history in the province and has been jailed several times for violent crimes.

He served a nine-month jail sentence for a 2011 robbery in Nanaimo.

Records show Bartos has also used the alias, Christopher Bartos Hartt.

Police apprehend a suspect following a high-risk takedown in downtown Nanaimo (Kevan Shaw)

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