Three people have been charged in connection with a targeted home invasion in Deroche last Wednesday.
Police were notified of a break and enter in progress around 8:30 p.m. by the family being victimized, said Mission RCMP.
Mounties spotted the suspect vehicle near Nicomen Island Trunk Road and gave chase westbound on Highway 7, but stopped the pursuit when it became dangerous, noted RCMP Insp. Richard Konarski.
Instead, police set up a spike belt near the Chamber of Commerce, which successfully deflated three of the vehicle’s tires. Police cornered the vehicle near Rocko’s Restaurant and arrested three people while the driver attempted to flee on foot. He was tracked down by a police dog and eventually gave himself up as officers approached.
All the stolen property was located inside the suspect vehicle.
The family, two adults and a youth, inside the targeted home was traumatized, said Konarski, adding the suspects were known to them through relatives.
“The individuals involved with the charges went to the residence with an understanding there would be a return on their time and energy, but that didn’t happen,” explained the inspector. “It was a half-cocked plan that resulted in a comedy of errors … What they anticipated didn’t exist.”
Charged with robbery are 51-year-old Michael Stanley Watt of New Westminster, 36-year-old Erin Jennifer Eakins of Burnaby, and 24-year-old Corey Dean Mealings of Surrey.
The trio were also charged with unlawful confinement and using an imitation firearm to commit an indictable offence.
Watt was further charged with evading a peace officer and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Police did not pursue any charges against a Port Coquitlam youth who was also involved in the incident.
