Machete-wielding man on Vancouver Island charged after lengthy crime spree
Police on Vancouver Island say a man armed with a machete is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault and breaking and entering, after officers were called to a crime spree in progress Monday.
The Nanaimo RCMP began receiving calls about the machete-wielding man smashing windows and assaulting people in the 2100 block of Duggan Road around 1:45 p.m., the detachment said in a statement.
Witnesses told police the man used the machete to break into two homes before he was chased away by residents. He then ran to Davies Road, where he attacked and wounded a man in his driveway and demanded car keys from the man's wife, police said.
The injured man was transported to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where he was treated and released.
The suspect reportedly stole the couple's car and was driving erratically, striking a median at Comox Street and Terminal Avenue before crashing at the intersection of Albert and Dunsmuir streets.
Police say the man fled the crash scene on foot with officers in pursuit.
Witnesses then called 911 to report a man fighting with shoppers and trying to break into vehicles at downtown Nanaimo's Port Place Shopping Centre. Police caught up with the man in the parking lot and arrested him.
Christopher Bartos, 32, was charged Tuesday with two counts of breaking and entering, two counts of robbery, one count of aggravated assault and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.
The suspect was held in custody pending a bail hearing and more charges may be forthcoming, police said.
Investigators are asking anyone with video of the incidents from Duggan Place or in the Port Place Mall parking lot between 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to contact the Nanaimo RCMP 250-754-2345.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Air Canada, pilots reach tentative deal, averting work stoppage
Passengers with plans to fly on Canada's largest airline can breathe a sigh of relief after Air Canada said Sunday it has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing more than 5,200 of its pilots.
Liberals will let Conservatives hold non-confidence vote 'fairly soon', no intention of proroguing Parliament
The Liberals have no intention of using procedural tactics to delay the Conservatives' promised non-confidence motion, and they have no plans to prorogue Parliament to hold onto power, according to Government House Leader Karina Gould.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Beef with your neighbour? Here are your rights in Canada, according to a lawyer
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.
Liberal candidate in Montreal byelection says campaign is about her — not Trudeau
In the final stretch of a Montreal byelection campaign widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, the Liberal candidate - Laura Palestini - wants people to focus on her — not her leader.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Andrew Scheer avoids answering if Conservatives will cancel dental care program
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer won't say whether his party will scale back or fully scrap Canada's federal dental care program, despite new data showing nearly 650,000 Canadians have used the plan.
opinion Prince Harry turns 40: Reflecting on his milestones and challenges
As Prince Harry turns 40 on Sunday, royal commentator Afua Hagan charts the prince's path which has been defined by significant milestones and challenges from his time at Kensington Palace to his current life in his California mansion.
The Israeli military says 3 hostages recovered months ago were likely killed in November airstrike
The Israeli military says there is a 'high probability' that three hostages found dead months ago were killed in an Israeli airstrike.