Police arrest male after dangerous crime spree

Nanaimo

2024-09-04 13:57 PDT

File # 24-28725

On September 2, 2024, at approximately 1:45 pm, the Nanaimo RCMP began receiving calls of a male with a machete breaking windows and assaulting people in the 2100 block of Duggan Road in Nanaimo. Witnesses reported that the male used the machete to break into one home, causing the homeowner to flee, broke into another home and was chased out by the residents. 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.

Officers than responded to a flurry of reports of the stolen vehicle driving at high rates of speed North East on Bowen Road and then travelling Southbound on the Island Highway. At the Comox Street and Terminal Avenue intersection, the car clipped the cement median, flew through the air and continued heading Southbound on Terminal Avenue. The driver turned West onto Albert Street, lost control of the vehicle, crashed at the intersection of Albert Street and Dunsmuir Street and fled on foot.

Subsequently 911 callers reported that a male was in the parking lot of the Port Place Mall on Commercial Street trying to break into vehicles and fighting with people in the parking lot. Officers located the male at Port Place Mall, many of whom were familiar with the suspect.

32-year-old Christopher Bartos of Nanaimo was arrested without incident after a brief foot pursuit and detained for court on September 3, 2024. He has been charged with the following offences:  Break and Enter into a Dwelling House, Robbery, and Theft of a Motor Vehicle. He remains in custody.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges may be forth coming. Police are requesting that anyone with video footage of the events on Duggan Place and in the Port Place Mall parking lot between 1:30 pm and 2:15 pm on September 2, 2024 to please contact the Nanaimo RCMP 250-754-2345.

Released by:

Email: sherri.wade@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: nanaimo.rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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