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Pitt Meadows RCMP lay assault with a weapon charge against suspect
Police say several agencies coordinated to locate a vehicle linked to a theft-related incident. Christian Darren Leggatt faces several charges and remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing; a female passenger has been released and has not been charged.
Pitt Meadows RCMP say coordinated work by multiple police agencies across the region led to charges, including assault with a weapon, being laid against a suspect.
On Oct. 1, Pitt Meadows RCMP responded to a report of a theft-related incident outside a retail store in the 19800-block of Lougheed Highway. Loss prevention officers detained a female suspect, who allegedly fled with help from a male associate in a vehicle. Police said the man was reported to be in possession of a weapon.
Police identified the vehicle and shared its details with law enforcement agencies throughout the Lower Mainland. On Oct. 2, officers with the BC Highway Patrol Prohibited Driver Enforcement Team found it in Maple Ridge and began preliminary surveillance. Maple Ridge RCMP, the Coquitlam RCMP Strike Force Team and the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service (LMD IPDS) coordinated resources to monitor the vehicle and its occupants.
Police say the occupants were safely taken into custody in Port Coquitlam. Pitt Meadows RCMP continued the investigation and sent a report to the BC Prosecution Service. Prosecutors approved charges against Christian Darren Leggatt, including possession of stolen property, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, intimidation by threats or violence, and assault with a weapon. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
None of the charges has been tested in court. An accused is considered innocent until proven guilty. The female passenger has been released on an undertaking to appear in court, but no charges have been laid against her.
Pitt Meadows detachment commander Staff Sgt. Michelle Luca said coordinated efforts by the BC Highway Patrol, Maple Ridge RCMP, Coquitlam RCMP, LMD IPDS and Pitt Meadows RCMP resulted in the individuals’ safe arrest while minimizing risk to the public. She said the case highlights the importance of information sharing and coordination across jurisdictions, as investigations often extend beyond a single community’s boundaries.