A man whom police have identified as a "super prolific" offender was arrested in Abbotsford on Wednesday night and found to be carrying three packages of cocaine.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the 26-year-old man was being followed by police, who were planning to arrest him for driving while prohibited in Abbotsford and Mission and mischief in Maple Ridge.
Because of his criminal history, members of the Abbotsford Police Department's crime reduction unit, drug enforcement unit, emergency response team and K9 unit were involved.
The man, who was carrying a bag, was walking across a parking lot in the 32500 block of South Fraser Way, when officers converged on him with plans to arrest him.
The culprit sprinted away and jumped into the passenger seat of a BMW occupied by a female driver in her 40s. He yelled at her to drive away.
"This woman doesn't know who he is and is petrified, so she refuses," MacDonald said.
The man then pushed the woman out of the driver's door, with the intention of taking over the vehicle and fleeing the scene. But officers entered the vehicle and were able to gain control of the suspect.
A search of the bag he was carrying revealed three packs of cocaine, each weighing about one kilogram.
The female driver was examined by BC Ambulance staff, and it was determined1 that she had not been injured, although she was "extremely shaken" by the incident, MacDonald said.
The Abbotsford Police Department is recommending several charges against the man, including robbery, possession for the purposes of trafficking, and flight from police.
MacDonald said the suspect has had about 100 previous interactions with police. He is categorized as a "super prolific offender" because he has more than 30 prior convictions for crimes such as theft, driving offences, and weapons.
The man cannot be named until charges are formally laid.