PG Mounties address concerns related to recent investigation

The Prince George RCMP are addressing some concerns regarding a recent investigation that has been brought to the RCMP’s attention through local social media channels.

According to police, this is in relation to an investigation involving the theft of a vehicle.

The relevant investigation started on Monday, when Mounties were advised a vehicle had been stolen out of a parking lot on the 3300-block of Highway 16 west.

The vehicle was identified as a black, 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

Police believed the suspects, as identified through available CCTV footage, to be associated with a local crime syndicate.

Multiple units were directed to begin searching for the vehicle, as it was believed to be related to criminal activity in the area.

On Tuesday, members of the RCMP’s Street Crew Unit located what appeared to be the stolen vehicle in a parking lot on the 5200 block of Domano Boulevard.

“As it was believed that the occupants of the vehicle would be associated to a known crime group, our police officers followed their training for that they determined to be a high-risk-vehicle stop, which includes using police vehicles to prevent movement of the suspect vehicle and engaging the occupants, in this instance a lone driver, with their firearms drawn,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper.

Police say it was quickly determined the driver and the vehicle involved in this stop were not the suspects that officers were looking for.

The driver was immediately released from police custody.

“We have been in contact with the driver several times since this incident occurred,” said Sergeant Dan Morris, Commander of the Street Crew Unit.

“We have had the opportunity to explain what occurred to lead our police officers to believe hers was the vehicle we were looking for and have offered support from our Victim Services Unit and our detachment.”

These investigations have since been resolved.

According to the BC Highway Patrol, five people were arrested yesterday (Wednesday) after police received a report of a dark Volkswagen SUV driving dangerously near Bear Lake.

–With files from Zachary Barrowcliff, My Prince George Now