Oceanside RCMP says it’s grateful for the help of two Good Samaritans who helped arrest a suspect this week.
A plain clothes Oceanside RCMP officer was at a Parksville convenience store Monday at 5 p.m. when the officer recognized a man who had an outstanding arrest warrant, according to an Oceanside RCMP release issued on Thursday. Cpl. Jesse Foreman of the Oceanside RCMP told Black Press the convenience store wasn’t far from the Oceanside detachment.
The plain clothes officer approached the 36-year-old suspect, a Qualicum Beach resident, and told the man he was under arrest.
The suspect, the release states, then got into a physical altercation with the officer who struggled to get the suspect into custody. The altercation then spilled out onto Highway 19A.
As this was happening, two men driving by in separate vehicles realized that the police officer needed help and they jumped into action to help deal with the situation.
“[They] helped restrain [the suspect] as he was pulling away and making it extremely difficult on the lone member to get him in custody and get handcuffs on,” Foreman said.
With the help of the two men, the plain clothes officer was “able to quickly get [the suspect] in custody,” reads the news release.
“I’m very grateful that these men jumped into action to help my officer. They were able to quickly prevent a potentially dangerous situation,” said Sgt. Stephen Rose in the release.
The release also states that no injuries were sustained by anyone involved in the arrest.
In addition to the suspect’s outstanding arrest warrant for a breach of probation, the man is now facing additional charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of a peace officer.
