An alleged Surrey thief's attempts to flee police – which included jumping into the Fraser River – ended with him in custody this week.
On Tuesday (July 16) at about 10 a.m., Surrey RCMP were called to a report of a break and enter in progress at MacKenzie Sawmill near 117 Avenue and 130 Street on the banks of the Fraser River.
When police arrived, the man immediately ran and jumped into the river and officers could see him swimming away and getting on a log boom.
They spoke to him briefly, and he indicated he didn't want to go back to jail and would rather be shot by police.
He then broke into a floating shed on the river and could be heard barricading the door. The owner of the mill told police the barge contained flammable goods, as well as items that could be used as weapons.
The Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team (LMERT) was called and managed to enter the shed and arrest the man.
Surrey RCMP have recommended the 39 year old be charged with two counts of break and enter as well as one count each of mischief and theft.