RCMP release:
Shelburne RCMP has charged a man who stole an ATV and a truck then rammed a police vehicle as he fled an attempted traffic stop.
On August 21 at approximately 10:00 a.m., officers responded to a report of a stolen ATV from Jordan Falls. Investigators learned that a man took an ATV, a trailer, and firewood from a yard then picked up a woman and left towards Jordan Branch.
Investigators located the ATV on Jordan Branch Rd. The driver and passenger fled on foot after getting the ATV stuck off a trail. Officers were able to safely arrest the passenger, Cassidy Nickerson, 29, of Shelburne County.
While the officer was taking Nickerson into custody, the driver could be heard stealing a parked, unoccupied vehicle, a white Dodge Ram 2500 truck, from a nearby driveway on Hidden Hollow Ln.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. while on patrol in Shelburne, officers located the stolen truck as it pulled into a parking lot on King St. When the officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the parking lot, the driver rammed the police vehicle twice and hit another parked car before leaving the parking lot. In the interest of public safety, police did not pursue the truck.
Shelburne RCMP then responded to reports of the truck in the Jordan Ferry area and of the driver on foot around Jordan Branch Rd. RCMP Air Services and RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS) attended to support the investigation.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. during a search of the area on foot, the driver was safely arrested with support from PDS.
Joseph Hayden, 34, of Jordan Falls, is facing the following 19 charges:
- Assault with a Weapon (two counts),
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (two counts),
- Flight from Police (two counts),
- Motor Vehicle Theft (two counts),
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (two counts),
- Obstruction (two counts),
- Failure to Stop after Accident (two counts),
- Mischief (two counts),
- Failure to Comply with Undertaking (three counts).
He had a first court appearance on August 22 and remains in custody pending future court dates.
Nickerson is charged with five offences including Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, Flight from Peace Officer, and Failure to Comply with Undertaking. She was released by police pending a first court appearance scheduled for August 27.
Hayden and Nickerson were each issued a summary offence tickets for violating the provincial restrictions related to travel and activities in the woods.
The officers in the vehicle when it was rammed did not report injuries.
Shelburne RCMP appreciated support from the public as they attempted to locate Hayden, including reports of sightings and suspicious behaviour.
