Early Sunday morning, October 19, a Chevrolet pickup truck with a boat and trailer was stolen from a residence on Anna Marie Road.Reports state the truck with boat and trailer were stolen from the residence of Mike Kraft.
At 5:30 a.m., the Sooke RCMP received a call from a citizen concerned about a suspicious male near the McDonald’s drive-thru on Sooke Road. The concern was that the male may be intoxicated and the truck and boat he was towing was probably stolen.
Patrols were made for the vehicle and it was promptly located, but the driver refused to stop for police, striking the police car in the initial attempt to flee. A pursuit ensued through the Whiffin Spit area of Sooke. In the process the boat trailer became dislodged from the trailer hitch, and was dragging on the pavement, being towed only by safety chains.
The suspect turned onto Sooke Road, other members of the Sooke detachment and Westshore detachment were waiting near Otter Point Road. A spike belt was deployed flattening the tires of the truck. However, the suspect continued. Nearing the area of Sooke elementary school the truck was blocked in by responding officers, and the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle was arrested.
Follow up to the theft was conducted, resulting in the arrest of a second male suspect. Two 17-year-old males were charged with theft over $5,000. The driver faces additional charges of Flight from Police, Dangerous Driving, Impaired Driving, Driving over .08, and Breach of Probation under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
There was minor damage from the chase to a Sooke detachment patrol care. No officers were injured.
