A suspect in a Grindrod theft was so determined not to get caught that he took out a police cruiser Sunday night.
Although the suspect managed to slow officers down, they did eventually catch up with and arrest him.
An RCMP car received extensive damage after a white Ford F350 rammed the cruiser in reverse.
The incident occurred after a member from the North Okanagan RCMP’s rural detachment attended a report of a fuel theft in the 7300 block of Highway 97A in Grindrod Sunday at 9:30 p.m.
“The property owner reported two people were on her rural property and stole an unknown amount of fuel,” said Gord Molendyk, RCMP spokesperson.
The officer located a truck matching the vehicle description as it was headed towards Grindrod and caught up with the vehicle in a driveway in the 6100 block of Highway 97A.
“Our member pulled up directly behind the truck and before he could radio the dispatcher to give his location the suspect vehicle stopped and quickly reversed,” said Molendyk.
“Ramming the front of our police car causing extensive damage and disabling it.”
The truck then took off through the yard, out the back driveway and onto Old Salmon Arm Road.
The suspect vehicle was discovered parked on a lot on McGowan Street in Enderby. While awaiting the identification section to examine the truck for evidence, an officer observed a male matching the description of the suspect being sought.
A 42-year-old suspect has been arrested and remains in custody at the Enderby detachment.
He was expected to appear in court Tuesday to face charges of hit and run, dangerous driving and theft under.
Plates on the suspect vehicle were reported stolen out of Armstrong and the truck was reported stolen out of Lake Country.
The case remains under investigation and further charges could be laid.
