Prince George RCMP’s Street Crew Unit has arrested two prolific offenders last week when they were found driving a stolen vehicle.
At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday (Jan. 14), officers observed 22-year-old Thomas Joshua Toman and 26-year-old Justus Leigh Colin Teasdale driving a stolen rental vehicle, then followed the pair to the Walmart parking lot in College Heights where they surrounded the vehicle and arrested both men.
Police say both Toman and Teasdale are considered violent, and their arrest was considered high-risk to the members responding and potentially to the surrounding public.
Mounties add Toman did not initially comply with his arrest, forcing officers to deploy a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) to reduce the potential for any violence.
Both men were eventually taken into police custody without further incident, but following a search of the stolen vehicle after the arrests, crew members found a loaded shotgun underneath the front passenger seat and a loaded rifle on the floor of the driver’s seat.
Rifle seized from vehicle. . By Prince George RCMP
Shotgun seized from vehicle. . By Prince George RCMP“Thomas Toman and Justus Teasdale are prolific offenders and well-known to Prince George RCMP,” says Cst. Jennifer Cooper in a news release this morning (Jan. 18).
The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved eight charges against Toman, including:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon
- Possession of a Shotgun seized from vehicle
- Firearm contrary to prohibition order
- Resisting arrest
At the time of his arrest, Toman had one outstanding warrant.
Nine charges have also been approved against Teasdale, including:
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Careless storage of a firearm
- Possession of a weapon
- Resisting arrest
- Obstructing a police officer
- Possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order
At the time of his arrest, Teasdale had 10 outstanding warrants.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and both men will remain in custody while they await trial.
Anyone with more information about this incident is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
