A man who has eluded police for almost eight years turned himself into Hope RCMP on Tuesday.
Jason Burkard, 38, appeared in court today (Thursday) after being arrested on a warrant that goes back to June 13, 2005.
The warrant relates to an incident that took place on Nov. 25, 2004. Langley RCMP had received numerous calls of an erratic driver in the Aldergrove area. One of the police cars responding to the call was hit by this vehicle as it tried to evade capture. The officer was not successful in stopping the vehicle.
The vehicle was later spotted near the Greater Vancouver Zoo on 264 Street. Police received a report the Honda had collided with another vehicle. The vehicle entered the zoo parking lot and the driver fled.
Witnesses at the scene directed police to Burkard’s location, and he was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, flight from police, dangerous driving after fleeing from police and causing a pursuit.
He was held in custody until March 1, 2005 when he was found guilty of possession of stolen property over $5,000, dangerous driving, and theft under $5,000. He was sentenced to an 18-month conditional sentence order (CSO).
On May 17, 2005, he attended Chilliwack Community Corrections as part of his CSO and was directed to re-attend a week later. He didn’t attend on that date and the arrest warrant was issued on June 13, 2005.
Since then, police found no evidence of any contact between Burkard and any government agencies. Continued efforts to execute the warrant led Langley’s Crime Reduction Unit officers to locate Burkard in Hope.
Police made contact with family members and planned to arrest Burkard at his residence on Feb. 26. However, he turned himself in to Hope RCMP that same day.
