A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged with dangerous driving as the result of an incident late last week in Clarenville.

Last Thursday afternoon, an off-duty police officer reported being nearly struck by a vehicle driven by a man who was suspended from driving.

RCMP responded and found the suspect vehicle pulling out of the Clarenville Mall parking lot, and attempted to pull it over.

Instead, the vehicle sped away on Manitoba Drive, running a red light, and passing other vehicles including a school bus that was letting a student off with it’s lights on.

Police chose not to pursue, but located the vehicle a short time later turning onto a gravel road, and managed to stop the vehicle about a kilometer in, in the middle of the road.

The suspect, John Osmond and a passenger fled on food, but Osmond was apprehended a short distance away.

Osmond is facing charges including flight from police and dangerous driving. He’s also charged with driving without reasonable consideration for others, driving while suspended, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, failing to stop for a school bus, and failing to stop at a stop sign.