Suspected truck thief arrested

A suspected vehicle thief learned Saturday he can’t escape the long arm of the law, which in his case, extended all the way to the Yukon Territory.

Prince George RCMP received a tip at 5 a.m. Saturday from their counterparts in the Yukon that a man driving a stolen pickup truck was heading south on Highway 97 and was believed to be on his way to the city.

Police tracked down what they thought was the stolen truck and laid down a spike belt near the weigh scales at Highway 97 north to attempt to flatten the tires of the vehicle. But the driver avoided the spike belt and continued driving south on the highway.

A dog team, the RCMP’s helicopter and a crisis negotiator were summoned to join frontline officers in the search for the truck and driver and using a variety of police resources the suspect was arrested without incident just before 9 a.m. Saturday on Highway 97 South near the Cottonwood Bridge 26 kilometres northeast of Quesnel.

“We are familiar with the suspect and his history with police and that made it a priority for us to apprehend him as quickly as possible,” said Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cst. Jennifer Cooper. “The suspect will remain in-custody until he can attend court.”