BURST
A 25-year-old man has been arrested after what Mounties are calling “a dangerous” escapade on the water involving a stolen fishing boat Monday off the coast of Prince Rupert.
RCMP allege the man attempted to ram and evade a police vessel in the dark at night using a boat that had been reported stolen from Port Hardy a day earlier.
An RCMP boat crew and a West Coast Marine Services vessel responded and attempted to intercept the stolen boat, but it did not stop, the RCMP alleged in a news release on Thursday.
Investigators say the situation escalated when the boat operator and alleged he tried fired flares at police and attempted to ram a police vessel.
Police also allege the operator of the stolen boat used the boat’s VHF radio to threaten police.
After pursuing the stolen fishing boat for more than an hour, police say the man ran it aground. He was arrested.
RCMP say the man is facing criminal charges.
The grounded fishing boat has been recovered and towed from the area.