A 33-year-old Prince George man is serving six months in jail after pleading guilty to driving dangerously in a stolen vehicle.
Karl Boreland has also received a three-year driving prohibition after he was identified as the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reported stolen from earlier this month and an extensive police pursuit that ended in his arrest.
On April 10, 2021, a local resident reported their dark-coloured truck was taken without consent from their home on 700-block 17 Avenue.
It was believed to have been stolen sometime during the evening while the owner was asleep, claiming it was a friend who had been staying with them that took the vehicle.
Police spotted the vehicle twice during the next two days.
The first was in the Hart when a witness called in to report seeing the vehicle and upon arrival, the witness stated the vehicle left the area when the driver saw police.
Mounties explain they were unable to locate the vehicle again despite extensive patrols.
The second sighting was shortly after midnight on April 13, when a member on patrol located the vehicle on Eighth Avenue near Alward Street.
The driver fled the area when the member attempted to conduct a traffic stop; in the interest of maintaining public safety, the member did not pursue the vehicle at that time.
The truck was located again near North Kelly Road shortly after 3 p.m. that same day.
The driver of the vehicle began swerving into oncoming traffic over double-solid yellow lines in order to evade police so members did not attempt a traffic stop.
A member in an unmarked police vehicle spotted the truck near Chief Lake Road and Foothills Boulevard and was able to provide an update to police in the area. Police say the member in the unmarked vehicle was able to maintain public safety and still keep sight of the truck and followed it until the driver entered the Salmon Forest Service Road.
“At this time, a Police Dog Services (PDS) team and the police helicopter, Air 3, joined in following the vehicle down the forest service road," explains Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cst. Jennifer Cooper.
"A member in the helicopter was able to provide updates on the vehicle’s speed and direction to members following the truck. A dead-end forced the driver to turn around and come back towards the oncoming members. The driver stopped the truck when he saw the PDS team and, with the help of the Police Service Dog, members safely arrested him."
Police say they're familiar with Boreland and, at the time of his arrest, a Probation Order in place included a condition that he'd not occupy the driver’s seat of any motor vehicle.
He was held for court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle.
