Van Kam Freight Ways on Milton Street, where several truckers helped police arrest a man for dangerous driving in Nanaimo Monday.
Police in Nanaimo are crediting a group of truckers for helping officers arrest a man for dangerous driving and trying to avoid arrest.
39-year-old Kale Nystrom is in custody after being formally charged in court Tuesday with flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, mischief under $5,000, driving while prohibited, failure to stop at an accident, possession of a controlled substance and prohibited driving.
Police suspect the substance to be heroin.
On Monday around 4 p.m., RCMP spotted an older model jeep driving along an alleyway between Nicol and Haliburton Streets.
Mounties say when they tried to stop the vehicle, the driver took off in a “reckless manner.”
During the search of the jeep, patrolling officers heard a loud crash in the 1100 block of Milton Street.
When they arrived on the scene, a semi truck and trailer was blocking the entrance of the Van Kam Freight Ways parking lot and the suspect vehicle was driven three times into the semi in an attempt to leave.
When the suspect tried leaving around the rear of the lot, the jeep was undrivable after being steered into a fence surrounding the compound and then a concrete barricade.
The driver took off again on foot and several nearby truckers helped pursue the suspect through the compound and later helped officers corral the man.
An arrest was made without further incident.
“While we commend the truckers with assisting the officers in the arrest of this person, we would be remiss in not reminding the public of the inherent risk posed when intervening in these types of situations,” Nanaimo RCMP Constable Gary O’Brien said.
“Sometimes it’s best to let officers make the arrest and for civilians to report and monitor from a safe distance.”
Two female passengers in the vehicle were detained but were released with no charges pending.
Nystrom is back in court by video April 3.
Andy Neal
