Nanaimo RCMP officers have arrested a 26-year-old man in possession of large quantities of cash and illegal drugs after a short chase on Halloween.
In a police report issued on Monday, police said that the incident took place around 2 a.m. on October 31 when they spotted a cyclist “racing eastbound” on Fitzwilliam St. with no helmet or lights.
According to patrol officers, they witnessed the cyclist nearly collide with a vehicle, which led to police attempting to stop the man.
Police said they used their emergency lights and a loud haler, however, the cyclist refused to stop.
In the report, a statement from RCMP says he weaved “along city streets and back alleys, and after hitting one too many curbs, the cyclist eventually crashed and fell off his bike.”
After the cyclist fell, police said the man tried to flee on foot, resulting in a short chase that ended with his arrest on Terminal Ave.
Initially, the 26-year-old was arrested for Obstruction, however, a search of his belongings resulted in officers finding $10,550 in Canadian currency, 6 ounces of fentanyl, 7 grams of methamphetamine, 8 grams of cocaine and a small quantity of cannabis.
“This was not what the officers expected when they attempted to stop the cyclist but it certainly worked out well. Fentanyl is a deadly drug that has claimed hundreds of lives in communities across BC. By removing just this amount, upwards of 1700 lives may have been saved,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
The cyclist has been arrested for Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.
The 26-year-old man was later released on an Undertaking with a court date for December in Nanaimo Provincial Court.
Graham Cox
