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Abbotsford police arrest motorcyclist after helicopter video shows dangerous driving
Police say a 20-year-old Langley man was arrested in Abbotsford after a helicopter tracked him weaving through traffic at speeds up to 180 km/h. Officers are recommending several charges, which court records suggest have not yet been laid.
A motorcyclist was arrested in Abbotsford late last month after an RCMP helicopter tracked him weaving through traffic at speeds of up to 180 km/h, according to Abbotsford police. The incident began just after 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, while RCMP’s Air 1 helicopter was on routine patrol. Its crew saw the motorcycle travelling east on Highway 1 in Surrey and alerted B.C. Highway Patrol officers, who tried to stop it in Langley. The rider did not stop and continued east at excessive speeds, police said in a news release Friday. Ground units disengaged while Air 1 kept the motorcycle in view from the air.
Video released by police shows the motorcycle weaving through traffic, riding on the shoulder and entering highway construction zones. The helicopter crew can be heard exclaiming as the rider passes through a narrow gap between two larger vehicles. At one point, the motorcycle strikes a traffic pylon and continues.
The motorcycle left the highway in Abbotsford and entered Highstreet Shopping Centre, police said. The rider parked and fled on foot, but was soon apprehended by Abbotsford Police Department officers who were already in the area.
Police are recommending charges against a 20-year-old Langley man of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, possession of stolen property and driving while prohibited. Police have not released his name. Online court records suggest the charges have not yet been laid.
Abbotsford police Sgt. Paul Walker said the arrest highlights the value of strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies. He said co-ordinated efforts by RCMP Air 1, B.C. Highway Patrol and Abbotsford officers on the ground brought the dangerous situation to a safe conclusion. Walker said reckless driving at those speeds puts everyone on the roads at risk. He reminded motorists that road safety is a shared responsibility and said the agencies remain committed to working together to keep dangerous drivers off the road and communities safe.