A man was arrested by police this week after he was caught driving a vehicle stolen from Coquitlam while impaired.
On Wednesday morning (Sept. 22), BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) pulled over the vehicle near United Boulevard after it was seen heading east on Highway 1 in Burnaby.
Following an investigation, it was found that the man was already prohibited from driving and impaired after failing several roadside tests conducted by a drug recognition expert.
Although this investigation began as a routine stolen vehicle file, it ended safely with the arrest of an impaired driver and the recovery of stolen property thanks in large part to the seamless communication and cooperation among multiple police agencies,
explains BCHP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Halskov, noting this was a collaboration between BCHP, Coquitlam RCMP and Vancouver police.
The file was originally reported on Tuesday (Sept. 21) when a woman's vehicle was stolen from the parking lot of a shopping centre, noticing the keys were taken from her purse.
Coquitlam Mounties then broadcast the vehicle's description to other detachments in the Lower Mainland.
Around 8 a.m. the next day, Vancouver police were notified of a possible impaired driver in a vehicle near McGill and Renfrew matching the description of the one taken from Coquitlam.
The same complaint was also called to BCHP no more than 10 minutes later, and a licence-plate check confirmed it was the stolen vehicle which ultimately led to the arrest.
This arrest would not have been made without the collaboration and partnerships between our specialized units at BC Highway Patrol and Coquitlam RCMP Detachment,
said spokesperson Const. Deanna Law.
We are pleased that the coordinated efforts of both agencies resulted in an arrest and reducing the risk to the public.
According to ICBC, 20 people die in the province each year from crashes involving drugs.
Anyone with more information on possible impaired drivers on local roads is encouraged to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.
