An RCMP officer is recovering in hospital after police say a robbery suspect plowed into his car at a Burnaby road block on Christmas Day.
According to police, the female suspect was fleeing the scene of an armed gas station robbery in Chilliwack shortly after 7:30 p.m. when police spotted her car.
"There was a short pursuit, approximately a minute, minute and a half," spokesperson Sgt. Peter Theissen said.
For public safety, officers backed down and let the vehicle escape, Theissen said. Unmarked police cars later located the vehicle and followed it on to Highway One where a road block had been set.
"The suspect driver approached the road check, and drove over a spike belt which deflated her front tires," Theissen said.
Authorities say the vehicle then swerved to the side of the road, appearing to pull over, before allegedly speeding towards the passenger side of a parked police car.
"She could have stopped, she could have pulled over to the side of the road," Theissen said. "She clearly drove directly in the direction of that vehicle."
A 46-year-old Burnaby RCMP officer, who had recently been promoted to Corporal, was sitting in the driver's seat and received undisclosed head injuries.
"He was unconscious for a period of time before being extracted from the vehicle," Theissen said.
The injured officer has been a member of the RCMP for 18 years, and recently transferred from Alberta. He remains in hospital.
The suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in Chilliwack court on Monday.
The RCMP are currently in contact with police in Kelowna and Kamloops to determine if she is connected to other "significant offenses."
