An RCMP review of the shots fired to stop an armed car theft suspect as he fled into Sardis Monday after a police chase through the Chilliwack River Valley is underway by the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP detachment.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen said the review is standard procedure and will look at the circumstances of the pursuit, the shots fired and the use of a police vehicle to push the suspect vehicle off the road.
The driver of the vehicle, stolen earlier that day in Richmond, had avoided two spike belts set up by police on Chilliwack Lake Road, but hit a third at the intersection of Vedder Road.
Despite blowing out the front tires, the driver continued on and turned onto a deadend street near Keith Wilson Road.
Thiessen said the suspect rammed two police vehicles as he tried to drive out of the deadend street, "heading into more populated areas."
"Shots were fired by police, striking the suspect vehicle," he said.
"The vehicle was ultimatey stopped when a police vehicle pushed it off the road, and it got hung up on a utility pole guide wire," he said.
The vehicle, a black 2010 Mercedes, damaged on the driver's side, came to rest in the parking lot of Domino's Pizza and Mountainview Cleaners.
The 36-year-old suspect, from Vancouver, was then arrested without incident.
Staff at nearby businesses witnessed the dramatic arrest, but said they never heard shots fired.
The suspect was scheduled to appear in Richmond provincial court Wednesday where several charges were expected.
The incident began at about 10:15 a.m. when Richmond RCMP were called about a robbery with a firearm at Bashir's Auto Cosmetics.
Tracking cellphone data, police believed the suspect was in the Cultus Lake area or the Chilliwack River Valley.
The Mercedes, with BASHIR on the rear licence plate, was then spotted by police on Chilliwack Lake Road at about 2 p.m. and the chase began.