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Charges laid against man who jumped from parkade while fleeing police

Incident occurred last Thursday in Abbotsford
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Emergency crews tend to a man who fell or jumped off a parkade in Abbotsford last Thursday after attempting to flee from police. (Kevin MacDonald photo)

Charges have now been laid against a man who fell or jumped off a parkade in Abbotsford last Thursday while fleeing police.

Tyler William Houle, 37, was charged the following day with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, obstructing a police officer, and theft of a motor vehicle in relation to that incident.

He was also charged with two offences that allegedly occurred on Sept. 26 in Abbotsford: fleeing from a police officer and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Houle also faces one count of breaching his bail, two counts of breaching his probation and three counts of driving while disqualified.

The incident began Thursday morning, when the Abbotsford Police Department and the Lower Mainland District’s Integrated Road Safety Unit partnered to locate and arrest a prolific offender wanted on outstanding warrants for driving offences.

They and the Air 1 police helicopter located him driving dangerously in Chilliwack and travelling at speeds of up to 160 km/h in posted 70 km/h zones, said Const. Ian MacDonald.

The man eventually made his way into central Abbotsford and parked the red Honda he was driving in a parkade at Sevenoaks Shopping Centre on South Fraser Way just after 1:30 p.m.

Officers attempted to arrest the man, but he “ultimately landed on the ground approximately four metres below,” MacDonald said.

The culprit was injured when he landed, but limped to a nearby vehicle, which he then tried to steal, MacDonald added.

The suspect was quickly arrested and was taken to hospital for treatment of a suspected broken leg.

MacDonald said a police officer was also treated in hospital after suffering injuries when the suspect resisted arrest.

MacDonald said the Independent Investigations Office has been advised of the incident and will undertake a preliminary investigation to determine if there is a connection between the injuries the suspect sustained and the actions of police.

Houle has an extensive criminal record that includes prior convictions for mischief, assault, and being unlawfully at large, as well as multiple counts of possession of stolen property, breaching his conditions, and driving while prohibited.

Most of the offences occurred in Abbotsford, but others were in areas such as Chilliwack, Surrey, Penticton and Prince George.

According to the provincial court database, Houle pleaded guilty on Aug. 30 in Abbotsford to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and driving while disqualified in May of this year.

He was given a six-month conditional sentence, 12 months’ probation and a two-year driving ban.

He was charged with three counts of breaching his conditional sentence on Sept. 9. Those charges are still before the courts.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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