Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) spokesperson Const. Geoff Higdon confirmed several details this afternoon about an alleged carjacking and erratic driving incident that caused chaos around metro today.
A man was arrested in the Colliers area by Holyrood RCMP, who will be releasing a statement at some point today.
The erratic driving took place in both RNC and RCMP jurisdictions, so both police organizations were involved in the investigation.
Higdon said the man is set to appear in court Thursday morning on numerous charges.
Just after 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, RNC received a call for assistance from Holyrood RCMP about a vehicle heading towards St. John's. RCMP officers were looking for the man in connection with an incident in their jurisdiction.
Officers located the vehicle several times throughout the morning around metro, but the man was driving very fast and evaded police several times, at one point ramming into a marked RNC car near Columbus Drive and driving away again.
RNC received multiple reports from the public about the erratic driving all around metro, including near misses and dangerous driving.
At one point, RNC received a report that the vehicle may have been involved in a hit and run on Ropewalk Lane. Officers responded, but did not locate the damaged vehicle and that investigation is ongoing.
The vehicle went through the intersection at Thorburn Road and O'Leary Avenue causing a three-vehicle accident but no injuries. It then continued up Thorburn Road toward Austin Street, where it crashed into a utility pole and was abandoned near a housing unit.
The passenger got out and is being questioned by police. Higdon said the passenger currently does not face any charges and is not arrested.
RNC allege the driver then ran toward a nearby residence and carjacked a red Pontiac Montana with a woman and two children inside. The woman and two children got out of the vehicle and were not injured. Higdon said the man had a weapon, but will not state the kind of weapon.
The suspect then drove the vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway back towards Colliers where RCMP caught up with and arrested him.
A news release will be issued by RCMP later today.
Earlier story:
A man was arrested after a possible carjacking in the parking lot of NLHC housing units on the corner of Thorburn Road and Austin Street, near Wigmore Court, today.
A release issued by RCMP shortly before the arrest cautioned motorists that a man is at large, driving erratically and at excessive speeds. The release stated the man was driving in Holyrood, St. John’s, and Colliers. The vehicle being driven is a 2007 red Pontiac van, plate #HNO 314.
Police asked residents of Colliers to remain in their homes or businesses. The public was advised to avoid the vehicle if seen and not to engage with the individual.
Earlier story:
Emergency vehicles were on scene at a housing unit on the corner of Austin Street and Thorburn Road at noon today where witnesses say a carjacking took place.
A red van crashed in front of one of the housing units, taking out a utility pole in its path. Newfoundland Power had two vehicles on scene cleaning up the downed wire and assessing the situation.
Witnesses say there were two men in the red van — a driver who ran away and a passenger who said the driver would not let him out of the vehicle since Holyrood and ran around screaming, "Help me!" after the collision.
That passenger went with police to be questioned.
At a nearby housing unit, women were crying. Witnesses said one of the women was in a red Kia Sorrento when a man with a knife told her to get out of the vehicle. They said she took her children out of the car before he took off up Thorburn Road in the direction of Portugal Cove-St. Philips.
The RNC is investigating.
The Telegram will continue to update this story.
