‘Aggressive dogs’ unleashed on police in pursuit of stolen pickup truck
RCMP in Nova Scotia Encounter “Aggressive Dogs” While Pursuing Suspect Connected to Stolen Pickup Truck
According to a news release from the RCMP in Nova Scotia, a dramatic pursuit unfolded on Thursday morning as police attempted to apprehend a suspect linked to a stolen pickup truck. The incident began around 8:30 a.m. AT when Kings District RCMP received a report of a white Ford F-350 stolen from New Minas. The owner informed authorities that debit and credit cards left in the vehicle had been used in other areas of the province.
By 2 p.m. that same day, Lunenburg District RCMP discovered that the stolen F-350 was traveling on Highway 103, towing a camper trailer that had also been reported stolen. The police located the pickup truck on Port Medway Road, but when they tried to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, causing the camper to collide with a utility truck before rejoining Highway 103.
Despite the RCMP’s decision not to pursue the truck onto the highway for public safety reasons, the RCMP Air Service began monitoring the vehicle’s movements. The Bridgewater Police Service and the RCMP Police Dog Service were also called in to assist.
‘Aggressive Dogs’ Unleashed
As the truck passed through Bridgewater, the driver abandoned the vehicle near Exit 7 and fled on foot into a wooded area. In a shocking turn of events, the suspect released several aggressive dogs from the truck, hindering the police and police dogs from pursuing him on foot.
After ensuring the safety of the officers, Lunenburg RCMP and the police dog service successfully located and arrested a 36-year-old man from Billtown in Kings County, N.S. The suspect was charged with multiple offenses, including theft of a motor vehicle and misuse of a credit card, and appeared in Bridgewater provincial court the following day.
Police Seek Dashcam Footage
The police dogs and the suspect’s dogs were unharmed during the incident, and were taken into custody by staff at a local kennel. Authorities are now requesting any dashcam footage showing the white Ford F-350 towing a Wildwood camper on Highway 103 or in Kings, Queens, or Lunenburg counties to aid in their investigation.
Those with information are urged to contact the RCMP directly at 1-800-803-7267 or provide anonymous tips to Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
