NANAIMO, B.C. – Police in Nanaimo, B.C., say they’ve arrested a man who was armed with a machete during an alleged crime spree that included a series of break-ins, chasing and attacking residents and stealing a car from a driveway.
Nanaimo RCMP say the attacks happened on Monday afternoon, when police began receiving calls about a man using a machete to break into homes.
They say the owner of one home fled, while residents of another chased the suspect away, before he ran to a third property and attacked and injured a man in the driveway.
Police say after chasing the man and his wife, he stole their car and drove off, triggering “a flurry of reports” about the speeding vehicle, which at one point “flew through the air” after clipping the cement median on a highway.
RCMP say the car crashed near downtown Nanaimo and officers arrested the suspect who had fled on foot at Port Place Mall and was allegedly trying to break into other vehicles and fighting people in the parking lot.
Police say the 32-year-old suspect from Nanaimo is being held in custody before a bail hearing.
The man has been charged with two counts each of break-and-enter and robbery, as well as single counts of aggravated assault and vehicle theft.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and more charges may be coming.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2024.
