Man arrested in connection with Lower Mainland crime spree
Posted January 6, 2014 11:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LOWER MAINLAND (NEWS1130) – A six-hour crime spree and manhunt stretched across three cities last night, ending with an arrest in Surrey.
It began in Richmond with a home invasion at about 6 p.m.; one person was stabbed and their car was stolen in just the first incident in a series of reckless and violent robberies.
About an hour later, police say the same man attacked and robbed someone who was taking out money at an ATM at the TD Bank at Kingsway and Victoria in Vancouver. The victim was treated by paramedics.
Moments later, the stolen car from Richmond was involved in a head-on crash, not far from the bank. Police say the man then tried to car-jack another vehicle that had stopped to help with the crash.
A family of four was in that car; the parents were slashed as the man hacked at them through an open window, while their seven and 10-year-old kids were in the backseat. They managed to drive away; the man and woman were treated in hospital.
The suspect then car-jacked another vehicle at a nearby gas station and drove off; he was eventually arrested around 11 p.m. in Surrey.
“These were violent crimes; these were violent offences,” says VPD Sergeant Randy Fincham. “So, we’re talking about a very short time period with a number of fairly significant violent incidents over three jurisdictions, which is significant.”
A 30-year-old man from Delta remains in custody in Vancouver; charges are pending.
Fincham notes more details still need to be worked out. “When he was arrested in Surrey, he was returned to Vancouver. We will hold him in one facility in relation to the offences and then we’ll determine which court jurisdiction is going to run with the case.”
“We do feel he is a danger to the public at this point,” he adds.
