A police operation targetting fuel thieves in the Lower Mainland got complicated last week with a police pursuit, crash and assault of a bus driver.
It all began when RCMP in Langley noticed a Ford truck last Wednesday with two fuel containers in the back. They followed it to north Richmond where marked police vehicles and two dog handlers prepared to arrest two suspects.
As police approached the suspects, the driver backed up, hit a parked car, then fled. Officers pursued the truck for a short time before deciding to end the chase, said RCMP in a news release on Tuesday.
"Specially trained members operating covert vehicles continued to monitor the suspect as he drove southbound on Highway 99," said Cpl. Holly Marks.
The truck smashed into a hydro pole and knocked it down, after missing a turn at King George Boulevard and 40th Avenue. Police arrested a female suspect there, but a male suspect was missing.
Soon after, a man covered in mud flagged down a Coast Mountain bus near the crash location. Richmond RCMP boarded the bus and found a suspect sitting on top of the bus driver assaulting him. Police say the suspect was trying to steal the bus in an attempt to keep fleeing.
Troy Regnier, 27, of Delta remains in custody and faces several charges including robbery, flight from a peace officer, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
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