A man attempted to avoid an impaired driving checkpoint before leading police on a car chase on Salt Spring Island early Saturday morning.
The man was driving a stolen Chevrolet Blazer in the 100 Block of Upper Ganges Road just after 12 a.m. when he avoided the checkpoint, nearly hitting on officer on foot then ramming a parked police car.
According to Salt Spring RCMP police approached the SUV and smashed in the driver’s side window trying to control the suspect. After a second police car tried to box the SUV in, it was also hit as the suspect drove back and forth between the police cars.
The suspect maneuvered his car away and took off, prompting a third police car to follow. Police found the SUV shortly after upside down in a nearby ditch.
When police and fire crews tried to help the man inside the SUV, he armed himself with an axe and tried to set the car on fire with a lighter. One of the firefighters was familiar with the suspect and persuaded him to give up the axe but the man refused help from first responders.
After several hours police forced the man from the car, apprehended him under the Mental Health Act and took him to the hospital. His injuries are unknown but not believed to be serious.
The Independent Investigations Office of BC was notified and will monitor the case.
A police constable in the first police car suffered neck and back injuries and is expected to be off duty for some time. There were several witnesses but none were injured.
Charges are expected to be laid as the investigation continues.
Any witnesses who saw or took video of the incident are asked to contact the Salt Spring Island RCMP at 250-537-5555.
