Armed Suspects Arrested near Agassiz

UFVRD Media Release

Thursday June 13, 2019

File 2019-23770

Armed suspects tracked by PSD Gibson and arrested by Mounties

#frontlinepolicing #IPDS #ITEAMS (Photograph Attached)

Agassiz:  In a true team effort, an Integrated Police Dog Service (IPDS) animal, his handler and Mounties from three detachments were involved in the arrest of two people following an alleged robbery spree in which the suspects used firearms and a stolen vehicle to flee police.

On June 10, 2019 just before 9:30 pm., Mission RCMP responded to a report of two men brandishing firearms while speeding away in a red SUV after robbing a general store in the 43000-block of Lougheed Highway, Lake Errock.  Officers from Mission travelling to the scene, quickly linked the suspect vehicle to a red Jeep reported stolen from Lake Errock earlier in the day.

Around 10 p.m., Agassiz RCMP received a report of a robbery at a gas station in the 3900-block of Chowat Road.  There were reports that the suspects fired rounds into the air. Agassiz officers, supported by Chilliwack RCMP and IPDS arrived in the area where the stolen vehicle was found abandoned near the Agassiz – Highway 7 overpass.

Police Service Dog Gibson quickly picked-up a track of human scent from the abandoned vehicle and found the two suspects to locate the first suspect hiding in a swampy area and the second suspect in a nearby garden shed. Firearms and evidence linked to the robberies were seized by police during the arrest.

Two men in their early twenties from Chilliwack remain in custody.

“RCMP from several detachments and Lower Mainland District Integrated resources operated as a team to apprehend criminals who cross jurisdictional boundaries to commit crime,” says Corporal Mike Rail spokesperson for the UFVRD. “Of course a key team member is PSD Gibson with the capacity to take a bite out of crime.”

RCMP remind everyone who witnesses anything they believe to be suspicious in nature to contact their local police or, should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).