Quick acting citizens and boaters aided Sunshine Coast RCMP in a dramatic arrest in the waters off Secret Cove last Saturday night.
The incident started around 7 p.m. Aug. 14, after police received a report of a possible impaired driver leaving the Ruby Lake boat launch.
According to Cpl. Murray McNeil, the driver in question was observed by several people at the boat launch acting in an aggressive manner and causing a disturbance.
"Witnesses described the driver as being highly intoxicated and unfit to drive," said McNeil. "The man departed from the boat launch in his full size pick-up truck while towing a ski boat and he proceeded south on the highway towards Madeira Park."
RCMP began patrols of the area and located the man driving aggressively south on Highway 101 near Francis Peninsula Road.
McNeil said one of the officers recognized him as a 26-year-old Sechelt man who was well known to police. The driver was bound by recognizance to not consume alcohol and was also prohibited from operating a motor vehicle, added McNeil.
"The officer activated his lights and sirens and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver did not stop for police and he continued to drive through the many sharp corners and curves south of Madeira Park," he said. "A second police vehicle joined in the pursuit of the vehicle as it continued to drive south at a high rate of speed.
"A female passenger in the truck could be seen taking pictures of the pursuing police cars with her cell phone camera as the truck sped down the highway."McNeil said the pursuit continued for several kilometres before the officer in charge decided to terminate the pursuit after 10 minutes due to a public safety risk.
More officers came to the area in an attempt to locate the driver and thanks to witness reports, the man was seen running through the woods towards the Buccaneer Marina and nearby Duke Point Marina. Police began to search the marina area and two officers were taken out in boats by citizens who were eager to assist in apprehending the suspect, said McNeil.
"Witnesses yelled to police that they saw a man jump into the water and swim towards several, large floating boathouses in the marina," said McNeil. "After several minutes of searching, the man was located hiding under the floating docks of the boathouse. Police attempted to negotiate with him to come out of the water, but the man refused despite being surrounded by several police officers in private boats.
"The man yelled that he would drown himself before he would allow police to take him to jail," said McNeil.With darkness approaching and almost two hours into the chase and search, three officers decided to go into the water to get the suspect before nightfall.
McNeil said the officers removed their gun belts and uniforms and dove into the water wearing only shorts and life jackets. The officers swam after the suspect and caught him just as he reached the opposite side of the marina.
"The man resisted arrest while in the water and the three officers who had swum after the suspect, along with the fourth uniformed officer, pulled the man from the water," said McNeil. "He was arrested and taken back to the marina with the help of two citizens who had assisted police by transporting police and the suspect in their boat to the dock."RCMP are crediting and thanking Jeff Keogan of Jasper, Alta, Tim Keogan of Brooks, Alta and Larry Remin of Richmond who went out of their way to assist police with their use of their motor boats in locating and transporting the arrested suspect.
"Police may not have been able to make the arrest without the assistance of these citizens and several local people who watched the area waiting for the suspect to appear," McNeil said. "Const. Adrian DeJong, a 35-year veteran of the force, remarked that the arrest was one of the most exciting of his career. Adrian set a fine example for the younger members of the detachment, as he was the first officer to enter the water and the first swimmer to reach the fleeing suspect."
The suspect remains in custody and is facing several charges including causing a police pursuit, breach of recognizance, resisting arrest and prohibited driving. His name has not been released by police, as he has not made his first court appearance to face the charges.
