A 32-year-old man, wanted by the RNC on for failing to abide by release orders, is facing additional charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle from Deer Park, and prompting a major search in the Salmonier Line area last week.
Holyrood RCMP were contacted last Friday morning after someone took a vehicle from the Deer Park area.
The suspect, who was known to the victim, was already wanted by RNC for breaching release orders.
The stolen vehicle was seen pulling off the Trans Canada onto the Salmonier Line and RCMP followed it to Vineland Road.
Police attempts to stop the vehicle, including the use of a spike belt, failed, and it struck a police vehicle before driving away at high speed.
(via Google Maps)
RCMP abandoned the pursuit in the interest of public safety, but the vehicle was later found crashed and abandoned on the Salmonier Line. An advisory was sent out for people to avoid the area and a search of the woods was conducted with the help of police dog Fury.
The dog sniffed out 32-year-old Michael Howe of St. John’s and he was arrested and taken to the detachment in Holyrood.
He’s facing a list of criminal charges including:
- Failure to comply with a release order condition – five counts
- Assault on a police officer
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Flight from peace officer – two counts
- Resisting/Obstructing a peace officer
- Taking motor vehicle without consent of owner
- Mischief over $5,000 – Damage to motor vehicle
He’s also facing additional charges under the Highway Traffic Act.
- Operating a vehicle with a suspended license
- Using handheld wireless communication device (while operating a vehicle)
- Failure to stop at an accident scene
- Failure to obey directions of a traffic officer
- Failure to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle
Howe has been remanded to custody pending his next court appearance on April 21st.
