RCMP say they have charged a 26-year-old man with nearly 20 offences after investigating a motor vehicle collision near Yellowknife’s Walmart.
In a news release, police said officers were conducting a bicycle patrol on Thursday when they were alerted that an SUV had hit another vehicle and fled the scene. Officers located the vehicle a short distance away with the suspected driver outside.
The suspect then got into the vehicle and fled police, the release states, with officers finding the vehicle abandoned at a dead-end a short time later. RCMP said the vehicle had recently been reported stolen.
The suspect was located hiding in nearby bushes with the assistance of police dog services and a drone, police said.
After arresting and searching the suspect, RCMP allege that officers found he was in possession of a folding rifle and ammunition.
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Police further allege the man was showing signs of intoxication and breath samples obtained at the Yellowknife detachment indicated he had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving.
In connection to the investigation, RCMP have charged Clayton Koe with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired driving, driving with a blood-alcohol content exceeding 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, failing to remain at the scene of a collision, and operating a vehicle without a driver’s licence.
Police further charged Koe with careless use of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon while knowing its possession is unauthorized, possessing a firearm in a motor vehicle, possessing a prohibited firearm with ammunition without a licence, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, and possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order.
He also faces charges of fleeing from a police officer, resisting a police officer, possessing property obtained by crime under $5,000, possessing property obtained by crime over $5,000, failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking, and possessing liquor at an unlawful place.
RCMP said Koe appeared in court for a bail hearing on the charges and was remanded into custody.
