Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Break-in suspect arrested on ice floe near Prince George

A 25-year-old woman is in custody and facing charges following what Prince George RCMP have called a "break and enter with a northern twist." How northern? An ice floe plays into the story.
RCMP
When RCMP officers found the break-in suspect on an ice floe in the Nechako River, she had started a fire in an attempt to destroy the evidence.

A 25-year-old woman is in custody and facing charges following what Prince George RCMP have called a "break and enter with a northern twist."

How northern? An ice floe plays into the story.

It began on Sunday at about noon when RCMP were called to a Christopher Road home in Miworth, just west of the city.

Police said the homeowner had returned to find a woman inside the house. The suspect fled in a pickup truck, narrowly missing the homeowner but colliding with her vehicle.

An RCMP service dog team was called in and the suspect was tracked to an ice floe on the Nechako River, about two kilometres from the truck. When they found her, she had started a fire on the ice in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence, RCMP said.

With the help of local boaters, Lafreniere and the arresting officer were transported to a safer location where an RCMP vehicle could be reached.

RCMP later determined the pickup truck had been stolen from a Third Avenue home earlier the same day.

Crown counsel has since approved six charges against Philicity Rhea Lafreniere: one count each of break and enter to commit a crime, dangerous driving, mischief under $5,000 and resisting arrest and two counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000.

Lafreniere, whose criminal record includes two previous convictions for break and enter to commit a crime, remained in custody as of Monday.