A British Columbia man is facing 30 criminal code charges, including attempted murder of a peace officer, after being arrested by police last week in the RM of Portage la Prairie.
On June 5, 2013, just before 4:30pm, Portage la Prairie RCMP were dispatched to a complaint of an assault and theft that had occurred in the RM of Portage la Prairie.
Initial reports were that an unknown male had entered a farm property and attempted to steal a dog. The suspect was confronted by the 57-year-old male homeowner, which resulted in the homeowner being seriously assaulted.
After driving a 2009 Chevrolet “monster” style 4-wheel drive pick-up truck up and onto the homeowner’s deck and threatening the man and his wife, the suspect fled the scene. It was later determined that the truck was stolen out of Saskatchewan and was bearing stolen Manitoba licence plates.
Police also received reports that the suspect had broken into a church in the vicinity and had attempted to steal a trailer from a nearby business.
Patrolling RCMP officers quickly located the truck. While police were attempting to make an arrest, the suspect drove directly at an RCMP officer, ramming the police vehicle with the officer inside, knocking it into the ditch and attempting to drive over it before fleeing. The officer was later treated and released at hospital for his injuries.
RCMP converged on the fleeing vehicle and followed it into a field where the suspect fled on foot.
The Portage la Prairie Police Dog Service located the suspect running nearby and again attempted an arrest. The suspect assaulted the police service dog and RCMP dog handler. A Taser was deployed, and the suspect was arrested. The police dog and handler did not sustain serious injuries.
RCMP report that 29-year-old Joshua Eugene Brockington of Langley, British Columbia, has been charged with 30 criminal code offences for his alleged involvement in this incident.
