RCMP Air Services assists Coquitlam RCMP in arresting dangerous driver

Coquitlam

2024-06-13 11:28 PDT

File # 2024-13872

Coquitlam RCMP locate and arrest a dangerous driver with the assistance of RCMP Air Services.

On Friday, May 31, 2024 shortly before 6:15 p.m. a motorcycle with no licence plate was observed travelling at a high rate of speed while weaving in and out of traffic along Coast Meridian Road near David Avenue in Coquitlam. To ensure public and police officer safety, Coquitlam RCMP asked for assistance from the RCMP Air Services helicopter – Air 1 – to locate the suspect from a safe distance and reduce police response time.

Air 1 was nearby and quickly located the motorcycle as it travelled through multiple jurisdictions including Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.

Transcription

No Audio

Video description: Aerial video that starts with a marked RCMP police car approaching a black motorcycle travelling in the opposite direction. The motorcycle increasing speed once the RCMP vehicle commits a U-turn to follow the motorcycle. The RCMP vehicle does not follow the motorcycle as it passing vehicles on the right-hand shoulder. Video cuts to the black motorcycle travelling at a high rate of speed and weaving in and out of 2 lanes of traffic while driving on the centre line over the Coast Meridian railway overpass in Port Coquitlam. Video continues as the motorcycle passes a vehicle in the left-hand turn lane at Coast Meridian and Lougheed-Meridian Connector to continue straight along Coast Meridian Road. Video cuts to the motorcyclist on a residential road, turning down a pedestrian path that is surrounded by trees and homes. The video briefly switches to infrared technology in grey-scale which depicts the motorcyclist as bright white due to heat. The motorcycle is walking the motorcycle down the pedestrian path before emerging into a residential cul-de-sac. The video switches back to colour. The video cuts to the motorcyclist driving on the wrong side of the road in a residential area before turning onto the sidewalk. The motorcycle continues straight down the sidewalk for a short distance before committing a U-turn in a driveway to travel in the opposite direction. The motorcycle crosses over the centre yellow line into the wrong lane of traffic before taking off at a high rate of speed. The video then ends.

The Lower Mainland Urban Patrol helicopter provides daily support to RCMP detachments in the course of their regular duties. In this particular situation, Air 1 was able to assist with traffic safety and FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed) searches.

Learn more about Air 1 at BC RCMP: Air Services

The driver exhibited extremely dangerous driving behaviour with little regard for the safety of others, said Media Relations Officer, Corporal Alexa Hodgins. Through a coordinated effort between Air 1 and Coquitlam RCMP, police were able to safely locate and arrest the suspect. This situation could have easily had deadly consequences, but by utilizing Air 1, officers were able to reduce the risk to the public while maintain continuity of the offender.

Police are recommending Motor Vehicle Act and Criminal Code charges.

If you actively observe dangerous driving behaviour, please contact 9-1-1. To report delayed driving offences, please contact your local police of jurisdiction’s non-emergency. To contact Coquitlam RCMP non-emergency, call 604-945-1550.

Released by:

Cpl. Alexa Hodgins
Media Relations Officer
Coquitlam RCMP
2986 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, B.C V3B 7Y5
Office: 604-945-1580

Email: coquitlam_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: coquitlam.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (English only)

Follow Us:

Date modified: