Man arrested after violent crime spree through Metro Vancouver
Police say no one was injured
A man has been arrested after a crime spree across Metro Vancouver that police say involved stealing a car, pointing a gun at people, snatching purses and ramming a cop car.
Vancouver police say the string of violent incidents began at 8 a.m. PT on Wednesday, when the 36-year-old man allegedly stole a grey Acura in Richmond.
Shortly afterwards, police say, the driver of the stolen car allegedly pointed a gun during a road rage incident as he was en route to Vancouver.
By 11:30 a.m., the stolen Acura was at Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue.
"The driver of the stolen car allegedly tried to steal a purse off the shoulder of a 19-year-old woman," said Const. Brian Montague. "A struggle occurred and the suspect drove away without the purse."
Less than an hour later, Montague said, the driver made it to 18th Avenue and Laurel Street, where he allegedly pointed a gun at a 34-year-old woman and took her purse.
At around 12:45 p.m., officers spotted the stolen car in the parking lot of Kingsgate Mall where the driver rammed a police car and sped away.
With a police helicopter joining the chase, the VPD's Emergency Response Team managed to block the car and take the driver into custody, said Montague.
A stolen purse and a weapon were found in the vehicle, he said.
No one was injured. Montague says charges are pending.