Oceanside RCMP and other units conducted a three hour search of a vehicle which hit a cruiser and narrowly missed an officer after a routine check. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

EXTENSIVE SEARCH

Stolen Saskatchewan vehicle, with Oregon plates, hits Oceanside RCMP cruiser in Qualicum

Nov 24, 2021 | 3:56 PM

PARKSVILLE — Two people were arrested after a prolonged, multi-hour search stemming from a routine report.

Oceanside RCMP received a call about a suspicious vehicle sitting near Higson Cres. and Seacroft Rd. in Qualicum Beach, around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Sgt. Shane Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW two people were seen sleeping in the vehicle over the course of a couple of hours.

“Our front line officer attended to investigate the report and engage with the male driver who quickly put the vehicle in drive and sped away, striking the police vehicle and narrowly missing our officer.”

The vehicle was tracked through multiple towns, with Comox Valley RCMP spotting it in their region.

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Officers from Oceanside, BC Highway Patrol and Air 8 tracked the car to Van Isle Rd. and Hwy. 19A where a woman was arrested in the passengers seat.

Police Dog Services from Nanaimo conducted a short track which led to the arrest of 41-year-old Mark Mann of Parksville.

He had outstanding warrants from Oceanside and Merritt.

“It was determined the vehicle was reported stolen Oct. 1 out of Regina, Saskatchewan and we’re following up with Regina police to determine the circumstances of that,” Worth added.

Police were unable to find any linked incidents involving the vehicle on its journey to Vancouver Island.

Mann appeared in court on Wednesday, Nov. 24, facing multiple driving and fraud charges. He remains in custody ahead of another court appearance on Tuesday, Dec. 7.

Mann’s criminal record dates back to late 2012 with charges of uttering threats and mischief.

Worth said the arrest was the result of multiple detachments working together in order to find a suspect.

“The last thing we wanted to do was engage in any pursuit of this vehicle or impact the public, make it unsafe for the public so we had to do our best to stop the vehicle safely and get the person in custody safely.”

He was not able to say how the stolen vehicle would make its way back to Regina.

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