Dramatic video has emerged of Vancouver police swooping in to arrest a pair of suspects who were allegedly involved in violent carjacking in neighbouring Richmond.
The video shows several unmarked police vehicles surrounding a vehicle near Hastings and Boundary on Monday morning, less than two hours after a carjacking on the other side of the Fraser River that left a woman in hospital.
CTV News has learned the victim, a woman in her 40s, was a home care aide for a grandmother. The aide had just arrived at a home in the 5000 block of Walton Road when police say a suspect approached her.
"The suspect allegedly produced a weapon and used it to smash a window," Richmond RCMP said in a statement. "The suspect then fled in the (2007 Toyota SUV) leaving the woman behind."
A witness who lives on Walton Road but did not give his name said he heard the sound of glass breaking, followed by a woman’s screams for help.
The care aide suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Richmond RCMP, but was shaken by the incident.
Richmond Mounties were unable to locate the vehicle in the area and notified neighbouring police agencies.
Officers in Vancouver located the car near Boundary Road and East Hastings Street shortly before 9 a.m.
Video, recorded by the dash cam of a vehicle some distance back, shows Vancouver police officers throwing at least two flashbangs, which explode, and police jumping out of SUVs holding what appear to be rifles, while shouting at the suspects.
Witnesses say the male suspect abandoned the SUV and ran down Boundary Street. Officers chased him for a block and a half until a police dog grabbed him on East Pender Street.
On Tuesday, Crown confirmed charges had been laid against 28-year-old Robert Paul Goodacre from Delta, and 21-year-old Jade Kay Contois of Pitt Meadows.
Both Goodacre and Contois face charges of robbery, and of using an imitation firearm while committing robbery.
In addition, Goodacre is charged with assault causing bodily harm, and wearing a mask with the intent of committing an indictable offence. Conois is charged with resisting or willfully obstructing a police officer during the takedown in Vancouver.
Court records show both suspects will remain in custody until at least Thursday, when they’re scheduled for a bail hearing.
Anyone with information that could advance the investigation is asked to contact Const. K. Chan of the Richmond RCMP General Investigation Section and quote file number 2019-2465.
