Nanaimo RCMP says patrol officers were in “the right spot at the right time” when they arrested a 36-year-old shoplifter at Canadian Tire this past Saturday.
In a report issued on Thursday, police say that the incident occurred at approximately 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the Canadian Tire located on Uplands Drive.
According to RCMP, officers with the Street Crimes Unit happened to be driving by the store when they heard a broadcast regarding a shoplifter waving a knife at employees.
Police say the 36-year-old was threatening to stab staff if they tried to stop him from leaving.
On the broadcast, the officers learned that the suspect was walking away from the store at the time and was being followed by several Canadian Tire employees, who were providing real-time updates on their location.
Police note that the employees in pursuit were following from a safe distance and not trying to stop the shoplifter.
Officers with the Street Crimes Unit spotted the suspect less than one minute later, according to the report. He was standing at the intersection of Uplands Drive and Oliver Road.
“The officers quickly surrounded the man, forced him to the ground then safely arrested him. When the man was secured in handcuffs the officers searched his clothing and located two folding knives in his pants pockets, along with a small amount of suspected fentanyl and heroin,” reads a statement in the report.
Police add that a bottle of bonding agent was found on the man, which was allegedly stolen from Canadian Tire.
The 36-year-old, Jackson Filgate, was later released from police custody with his next court appearance set for March 2, 2021, in Nanaimo Provincial court.
Filgate faces charges of Theft Under $5000, Possession of Stolen Property under $5000, Utter Threats, Possessing a Controlled Substance, and Obstruction.
The employees of Canadian Tire handled a volatile situation the best they could. Without getting too close to the suspect, they followed from a safe distance and provided current information to police dispatch. This allowed the officers to quickly find them and the suspect, and safely take control of the situation
. said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.
Nanaimo RCMP is also currently investigating a stolen car that was involved in a rollover crash off Old Island Highway on Wednesday.
Graham Cox
