Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

UPDATE: Suspect charged in police helicopter pursuit from Quesnel to Prince George

RCMP arrested a suspect after a lengthy pursuit between the two communities
facebook-Linked_Image___DzFQwNDV4AAQWx2
Police helicopter flying over Prince George. (via Twitter/Brian Skakun)

3:30 p.m.

A 27-year-old man has been charged after being chased on Highway 97 from Quesnel to south of Prince George on Sunday (Feb. 10).

Eric Roger Johnson appeared in B.C. Provincial Court today after resisting arrest and attempting to flee in a stolen pick-up truck.

Police tracked him down by helicopter to Massey Drive around 4 p.m.

Johnson has been charged with the following:

  • Theft of a Motor Vehicle
  • Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
  • Impaired Driving
  • Assaulting a Peace Officer with a Weapon
  • Assaulting a Peace Officer
  • Fail to Stop for Police (two counts)
  • Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (valued at $5,000 of more)

11 a.m.

A helicopter flew low over Prince George on Sunday (Feb. 10) as police tracked a suspect evading arrest.

Prince George police used the RCMP’s Air 3 helicopter to track and arrest a suspect who stole a pick-up from the parking lot of a retail business in Quesnel.

Just before 2:30 p.m., Quesnel Mounties received a stolen vehicle report and general duty officers then located the vehicle travelling north on Highway 97 towards Prince George.

However, the 27-year-old suspect fled at high speed after police attempted to stop the vehicle.

That’s when Mounties used the Air 3 helicopter and located the vehicle near Red Rock, B.C., which is about 30 km south of the city.

After the driver again refused to stop for police, the helicopter tracked the vehicle as it came into Prince George.

Just before 4 p.m., multiple general duty officers intercepted the vehicle near the southwest end of Massey Drive.

While the suspect made another attempt to evade police, a collision occurred between the stolen vehicle and a marked police car.

The driver was the lone occupant of the vehicle and was arrested without further incident; police say alcohol was a factor.

As a precaution, the suspect was transported to the hospital to be checked by medical personnel, and no police officers were injured in the altercation.

The driver, who is also a Quesnel resident, was held in custody overnight and is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court today (Feb. 11).

If you have any information about property related crimes, please contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, or anonymously contact Crime-Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca