A 31-year-old man faces several charges after attempting to steal a vehicle from an Abbotsford car dealership early Tuesday morning and then crashing into several parked cars.
The incident took place at 12:25 a.m. at Windmill Auto Sales at Garden Street and South Fraser Way.
An Abbotsford Police patrol officer heard the sound of an engine inside the dealership and then saw a man driving a Pontiac Firefly and crashing it into several unoccupied parked cars on the lot.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the culprit had selected a vehicle that was surrounded by other cars, making it difficult for him to escape.
The officer entered the property and called for backup, while the driver continued to crash into parked cars.
MacDonald said the suspect also drove at the officer and narrowly missed him.
Several others officers arrived on the scene, pulled the man out of the vehicle and arrested him.
MacDonald said eight vehicles were damaged in total. No one was injured during the “extremely dangerous” incident, he added.
MacDonald said the man is from out of province but had been incarcerated in the area and had been released from prison about a week ago.
He was on parole for theft of auto, uttering threats and breach. MacDonald said the suspect has more than 80 prior convictions, including for fraud and possession of stolen property.
In relation to the incident at the car dealership, the man now faces charges of dangerous driving, assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property, mischief and possession of a break-in instrument.
