NELSON — A routine traffic check turned into a chase that ended with two injured police officers and a man facing several criminal charges.
Conan Lee Taylor, 34, was arrested Saturday after police attempted to stop a driver as part of a project targeting drivers using cell phones, according to an RCMP release issued Monday.
Sgt. Chad Badry told the Star that public safety became the RCMP’s top priority during the chase.
“This is downtown Nelson, it’s a busy time of the day, and there’s lots of people about on the sidewalks and crosswalks, and lots of vehicles,” said Badry. “So it’s very concerning that someone would go to that extreme measure to avoid what on the surface appears to be just a cellphone ticket.”
RCMP said the suspect sped away after he was asked for his license. An officer became entangled in the car and was dragged a short distance. He sustained non-life threatening injuries and was later treated at Kootenay Lake Hospital.
Police found the suspect at his home, but he fled again, police said. He was then located a short time later at the mall parking lot, where an officer was able to block the vehicle.
Yet another officer was injured when police tried to arrest the suspect, who RCMP allege was found to be over the criminal limit for blood alcohol and under a 10-year driving prohibition related to an impaired driving fatality.
Badry added although witnesses have come forward to provide statements, police are still hoping more reach out about the incident.
By TYLER HARPER, Black Press
