An Abbotsford couple saw a man changing his clothes in their driveway Monday night.
When they asked him what he was doing, he said his girlfriend had pepper-sprayed him during an argument.
The couple phoned police, and Harley Tyler Johnson, 22, was arrested a few minutes later in the 28000 block of Fraser Highway.
He was one of two suspects in a home invasion that had occurred about 45 minutes earlier in the 4100 block of Bradner Road. On Tuesday morning, he was charged with break and enter, robbery, and possession of stolen property.
His criminal history includes convictions for assault, break and enter, uttering threats, mischief and numerous breaches of his probation, according to the provincial court database. His offences have occurred in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Kamloops and Surrey.
Const. Ian MacDonald said at about 9:30 p.m. Monday, police received a call from a 35-year-old woman indicating she and her husband had been the victims of a home invasion.
Their kids were out for the evening, and they heard a knock at the door. The man, 38, answered the door and was pepper-sprayed by two assailants, who barged in and pepper-sprayed the woman.
The culprits then demanded cash, but settled for a small quantity of electronics before fleeing on foot.
When Taylor was arrested, he was allegedly in possession of one of those items.
MacDonald said it’s not yet clear why the couple was targeted. It could have been because they live in an isolated area or it might have been a crime of opportunity, he said.
“It looks like these people are your average citizens,” he said.
The other suspect has not been located. He is described as Caucasian, 5′ 10″ to 6 feet tall, stocky, and wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
