RCMP Community Connection for the week of May 6 – 12

Welcome to the Mission RCMP Community Connection for the week of May 6 – 12, 2024

Here’s a snapshot of some of the work we did last week:

• Calls for service last week: 284
• Proactive patrols of identified hot spots: 28
• Curfew checks completed: 6

Calls of interest:

Click here for large photo of truck stuck in garden bed

A 52-year-old man from Mission received a driving prohibition after driving his truck while impaired at high speed – in reverse. Mission RCMP were called to 12th Avenue near Grand Street on the evening of May 10, after a witness saw a white Dodge Ram pickup truck driving backwards at high speed down the street, before crashing into a parked car and ending up stuck in a garden bed outside a house on the street. Fortunately, no one was injured in the strange incident. The driver was still on scene when police arrived, and he provided breath samples that registered two warn readings on a roadside screening device. He was issued a 3-day driving prohibition and his truck was impounded. Mission RCMP highlight the dangers of impaired driving, and how quickly things can go wrong while operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

A number of shoplifters were reported to Mission RCMP over the past week – all of whom are well-known to both police and local retail stores. In the early afternoon of May 6, a female attended a pharmacy along Lougheed Highway and stole $400 worth of merchandise, including batteries, air fresheners and hair removal products. During the evening of May 9, a Mission RCMP officer was conducting a proactive patrol outside a grocery store in Mission, when she recognized a male exiting the store as a prolific shoplifter who was on court-ordered conditions not to attend that location. He was arrested for breaching his conditions, at which time the officer also determined that he had over $350 of stolen merchandise with him as well. About an hour later, the same store reported that a prolific shoplifter had just run out with a printer and other items. RCMP located and arrested the male a short distance away. Police recovered nearly $1,500 of merchandise and returned it to the store.

Around noon on May 10, a suspicious grey Audi Q5 was reported to be parked on Butler Place in Mission. The caller provided the license plate number, which confirmed the car had been stolen in Surrey. When officers arrived however, the car had since left the area. That evening, the same Audi was reported to be parked on Keystone Avenue near Shaw Street, with two people asleep inside, and a bong in the driver’s lap. The vehicle again left while police were en route, however numerous other callers reported the vehicle driving erratically around town. Mission RCMP located the car at a gas station on Logan Avenue, but when the driver saw police vehicles approaching, he sped through the parking lot, crashed into one of the police vehicles, then sped off. The Audi was later located abandoned in downtown Vancouver. The investigation is ongoing.

During the afternoon of May 11, a Mission RCMP officer was conducting a proactive patrol of a mall parking lot along London Avenue. She queried a license plate through a police database, and determined the vehicle had been stolen in Delta. The driver immediately got out and tried to flee, but the officer stopped the male and arrested him. The 52-year-old man from Mission was arrested for offences including possession of stolen property, driving while prohibited, and breaching his court-ordered conditions.

On the evening of May 12, members of the Uniformed Gang Enforcement Team of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit were conducting proactive enforcement in Mission, when they observed a grey Pontiac Sunfire driving dangerously in the area of Stave Lake street and 11th Avenue. The vehicle first came to the attention of officers by spinning its tires and accelerating quickly, then sped through the parking lot of a mini-mall at that location, getting the attention of numerous bystanders and pedestrians in the parking lot. When a police vehicle pulled in front of the Sunfire to prevent it from leaving, the Sunfire then began to flee in reverse. Officers blocked it in and placed the driver under arrest. While doing so, the officers noted an odour of liquor on the driver’s breath. He refused to provide a breath sample, and was issued a 90-day driving prohibition and his vehicle was impounded. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

On the lighter side:

Shortly before 10 pm on May 8, Mission RCMP received a request to check on a woman in a townhome along the Cedar Valley Connector. The caller reported that the woman was yelling sporadically, and she was concerned for her well-being. Mission RCMP attended and determined that the woman was fine, and she had actually been cheering on the Vancouver Canucks’ amazing third-period comeback against the Edmonton Oilers, when Conor Garland helped the Canucks win 5-4.  Officers left the woman to continue her celebration, and determined that the only other action needed was to send out a big #GoCanucksGo!

Ways to connect with Mission RCMP:

• Emergency: 911
• Non-emergency: 604-826-7161.
• Online crime reporting
• Keep up with more news on our Facebook page