A 56-year-old man has been charged after a carjacking at a Shell gas station on the Island Highway in View Royal on Sunday in which the car’s owner was dragged about 30 metres.
West Shore RCMP responded after receiving calls as the incident unfolded near the highway and Six Mile Road.
The owner tried to stop the theft by grabbing the man at the wheel of his Mazda Protege, police said, and ended up being dragged by the car. The owner was transported to hospital and is expected to recover.
After the owner’s attempt to intervene, the suspect crashed into a parked camper van before driving at high speed and swerving into oncoming traffic on the Island Highway.
He then hit another vehicle, the driver of which followed him and called police to let them know where the man was.
The suspect came to a stop not far from the station on Price Road, where he was surrounded by witnesses who prevented him from leaving.
Insp. Stephen Rose, the officer in charge of operations at West Shore RCMP, said an investigation into the incident is ongoing. He thanked members of the public who alerted police and kept the suspect from driving away. “Their brave actions no doubt prevented further harm from being caused,” he said.
Rose cautioned anyone targeted in a car theft to call police for help from a safe place, noting the owner in this case was hurt while trying to prevent the theft.
Glenn George made his first court appearance Monday and was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, assault with a weapon, operating a vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public, and failing to stop a vehicle and provide information after it was used in a reckless manner.
He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 13.
Call West Shore RCMP at 250-474-2264 with any information about the incident.
