A 37 year-old man from Sheshatshiu is facing a raft of charges from when RCMP officers say he stole a police car and assaulted two officers.
The RCMP alleges Frank Pokue also tried to run down a police officer with the stolen police car, forcing the officer to fire on the vehicle.
The force’s major crimes unit is investigating the incident as well as whether RCMP protocols and procedures were followed.
The incident began around 11:30 p.m. on Friday when RCMP officers responded to reports of a disturbance at a house where people were drinking.
The police tried to arrest Pokue after someone alleged he assaulted a woman.
RCMP Sgt. Wayne Newell said that Pokue resisted arrest.
“He was pepper sprayed and he continued to be combative and he managed to take the can of pepper spray away from the member,” Newell said. “He attempted to spray the arresting members that were there.”
After the officers got the pepper spray back, Pokue allegedly ran out of the house, got into the police vehicle and turned on the emergency lights.
“He left in the RCMP vehicle and sped away,” Newell said. “Those are details that will come out — either (the keys were) left in the ignition or the vehicle was left running, I don’t know.”
Someone nearby drove the police in pursuit, and when they found Pokue a short time later, the officers again tried to arrest him.
Pokue then allegedly drove the police vehicle at one of the police officers.
“The member believed that he was about to get run over, and he discharged his pistol at the car,” Newell said, adding that the officer hit the car, but missed Pokue. “Nobody got hit, nobody was hurt, but he believed the car was coming towards him.”
Pokue then drove off again, back to the original house party, where the officers found him and arrested him without incident.
He appeared in provincial court Saturday morning and will be held for a bail hearing Monday.
He is charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, dangerous driving, stealing a police vehicle, escaping custody and impaired driving.
Pokue is known to police.
Newell said that whenever an officer shoots his pistol, it triggers an investigation by the RCMP major crimes unit.
“It will be reviewed and determined if appropriate procedures were follow,” he said. “If not then corrective action will be taken, but right now it’s too early for me to tell.”