ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A man who is alleged to have assaulted a woman in Clarenville and stolen her vehicle on Tuesday was arrested later that day hiding in some bushes on the Burin Peninsula after being sniffed out by RCMP police dog Grinch.
The carjacking and assault incidents took place around noon Tuesday, after which RCMP officers from Clarenville did extensive patrols in search of the suspect and the stolen vehicle.
An RCMP officer observed the stolen vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver did not stop and turned onto the Burin Peninsula Highway.
The officer did not pursue the vehicle in the interest of public safety, and contacted Burin Peninsula RCMP to inform them the vehicle was heading in their direction, police stated Wednesday in a news release.
The vehicle was spotted a number of times by officers from Clarenville and Burin Peninsula detachments and the man would not stop for police and continued driving in a dangerous manner, the RCMP stated.
Later in the afternoon, the vehicle was found abandoned near the exit to Monkstown, and at 4:45 p.m. RCMP police dog services conducted a search in the area and, a short time later, police dog Grinch located the suspect hiding in some bushes, police stated.
Timothy Hackett, 40, of English Harbour East was arrested and taken into police custody.
Hackett appeared in provincial court Wednesday on a number of criminal charges, including robbery with violence, assault, break and enter into a residence, possession of stolen property, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, numerous breaches of a court order and two breaches of a probation order.
Officers recovered the vehicle, and the investigation is continuing.
