A man driving a stolen vehicle loaded with weapons tried to drown a police dog in a river after he was tracked for more than three hours through the snowy woods in Qualicum Beach, police say.
Only when a stun gun was used on the man did he release the dog.Mounties spotted the vehicle, which police said was stolen from the Comox Valley, on Claymore Road West about 11 p.m. on Dec. 28, said Cpl. Tammy Douglas, spokeswoman for Island district RCMP.
Douglas said the driver did not stop for police. Officers followed the vehicle’s tire tracks in the snow and found it in a ditch.
Police gave commands for the two people in the vehicle to surrender. The passenger complied, while the driver ran into the bush, Douglas said. Officers found several weapons in the vehicle.
A police dog and his handler tracked the man for 3 1/2 hours through the snow and over fallen trees until he was found hiding on a river bank.
Douglas said the dog grabbed onto the man when he attempted to run. The man then pulled the dog in the river and tried to drown it, police said.
A stun gun was used and the man let go of the dog. He was arrested.
Justin John Chester, 29, is facing several charges, including possession of property obtained by crime, possession of break-in tools, failure to stop for police and failure to comply with a probation order. He is also wanted on several outstanding warrants out of Port Alberni, police said.
The vehicle’s passenger, Christopher Wade Raithby, 32, is facing charges of possession of property obtained by crime and possession of break-in tools.
