BC’s Civil Forfeiture Office has applied to take ownership of a pickup truck seized last summer from a man who is accused of breaking into a Prince George cell tower.
In a Feb. 24 filing in BC Supreme Court in Victoria, a lawyer for the director of civil forfeiture claims Patrick Ryan Baker used the 2007 GMC Sierra 3500 to commit a crime on July 23, 2024 at McBride Timber Road South — allegedly break and enter and possession of a break-in instrument.
Baker is the registered owner of the vehicle. His father, Brian Patrick Baker, is also named as a defendant in the civil action and has an unregistered interest in the truck that Prince George RCMP seized last Aug. 1.
The director began administrative forfeiture proceedings, but the Bakers filed notices to dispute on Jan. 27. The allegations have not been tested in court and the Bakers have yet to file a response.
“The vehicle is an instrument of unlawful activity,” said the lawsuit. “The vehicle has been used by (Patrick) Baker to engage in unlawful activities which variously resulted in, or were likely to result in, the acquisition of property or an interest in property, or caused, or could have resulted in serious bodily harm.”
Baker has been previously convicted of mischief under $5,000; failure to comply with an order; break and enter and theft; possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000; theft under $5,000; fraud under $5,000; possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized; failure to comply with conditions of an undertaking; and driving while prohibited.
“If the vehicle, or proceeds from the sale of the vehicle, are released to the defendants, they will likely be used for the unlawful activity,” claims the filing by lawyer Daniel Vlitos.
The online court file shows that Patrick Baker, 37, faces a July 30, 2024 break and enter charge and an Aug. 1, 2024 possession of stolen property under $5,000 charge. His next appearance in Prince George provincial court is March 4.
