STOLEN VEHICLES, POLICE CHASE & DRONE SEARCH ENDS WITH ARREST

(Sept 8th)

A multi-detachment RCMP operation involving stolen vehicles, a police pursuit and a drone-assisted search ended with the arrest of a 35-year-old man near Musgrave Harbour.

The investigation began on Sept. 2th, when Lewisporte RCMP received a report around 6:00 p.m. of a stolen vehicle. Police began conducting patrols, and the vehicle was located shortly before 5:00 a.m. after officers responded to a moose-vehicle collision near Jonathan’s Pond Provincial Park.

The suspect did not remain at the scene or attend hospital. A passerby who stopped to assist following the collision was able to provide police with a description.

Just before 8:15 a.m., police received a second report involving a stolen vehicle taken from a parking lot in Gander.

The vehicle was equipped with a location app, allowing officers from the Twillingate, Lewisporte, Gander and New Wes Valley RCMP detachments, along with RCMP Traffic Services Central, to track the stolen pickup truck.

The vehicle was located by officers in Frederickton, where a traffic stop was initiated. Police say the driver failed to comply with their demands, struck a police vehicle and fled the scene.

Officers continued tracking the vehicle until it was located abandoned near Musgrave Harbour.

With assistance from RCMP Police Dog Services and a drone operator, police tracked the suspect on foot and located him several kilometres from the abandoned vehicle.

The man was arrested without incident and transported back to the roadway with assistance from the Musgrave Harbour Volunteer Fire Department. He was assessed by Emergency Medical Services personnel before being transported to the RCMP detachment, where he was held overnight.

Devon Chezanne Hart, 35, appeared in Gander Provincial Court on Friday, Sept. 4th.

At the time of his arrest, Hart was the subject of several outstanding warrants.

In addition to previous Criminal Code charges, he faces charges including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, flight from a peace officer, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, operation while prohibited, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and multiple failures to comply with court orders.

Hart was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court again today, Sept. 8th.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Gander District RCMP thanked the Musgrave Harbour Volunteer Fire Department and NL Health Services paramedics for their assistance and continued partnership.