Charges laid after New West carjacking, taxi chase
Posted May 19, 2023 9:57 am.
Last Updated May 19, 2023 10:07 am.
Police in New Westminster say charges have been approved after a dangerous chase through the city involving a taxi Wednesday.
Investigators say a 27-year-old has been charged with one count of robbery and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the incident.
According to police, multiple 911 calls came in just after 1:30 p.m. reporting a “taxi driving erratically in the Uptown neighbourhood.”
“Multiple 911 callers telling us that pedestrians are running out of the way, that vehicles are being struck, so our officers located the vehicle and were able to block it in,” Sgt. Andrew Leaver explained.
He says it’s believed the taxi was stolen.
Related article: New West taxi carjacking, police chase ends in arrest
The taxi company confirmed to CityNews that one of its drivers was taken to hospital in relation to the incident. They said the driver is expected to be okay. The company did not provide any further information at the time.
The chase ended in the area of 6th Street between Princess and Hamilton streets. Videos shared on social media captured the dynamic chase playing out, with one piece of footage showing the taxi U-turning in an intersection before police vehicles closed in on it.
The suspect was also seen being pulled from the taxi after it was stopped. Police say he was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Callers to CityNews described dramatic scenes playing out in front of them. Anthony Smith says he lives right where the police chase ended, adding he initially heard a crash outside and went to see what was happening.
“It was actually a taxi cab crashing into other vehicles this time,” he said.
“Police weren’t there at first — at first it was just the taxi crashing into other vehicles and people were screaming and quite afraid. There was one cop that responded and he was chasing him, but they went south toward the New West Pier direction and I couldn’t see him anymore. A few minutes went by and then all of a sudden the taxi comes back up the street with about 10 police cars chasing behind.”
It remains unclear just how much damage was done throughout the area.
Police say New Westminster man Kaeden Hnatiw remains in custody.
