Another violent crime has been reported in the city of Nanaimo.
A 43-year-old Nanaimo man is in police custody after allegedly assaulting a 39-year-old woman.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. this afternoon when the woman agreed to drive the suspect and another man home from a social function.
After dropping of one of the men, police say she pulled into a parking lot and the suspect began punching and choking her without provocation.
The woman was told to drive to another location, but drove to her home instead.
The victim then managed to run from the car and called the police.
The suspect took off in her car and later had an altercation with police near Third Street.
He managed to drive off, side-swiping one of the police cars in the process.
Police have finally caught up to the suspect after receiving a 9-1-1 call from the Vancouver Island University area, where a car was reported to have crashed.
The description matched the suspect vehicle.
The suspect was tracked with the help of a police dog and was arrested after being found hiding in the bushes.
The victim had to be treated for her injuries, including cuts and bruises.
Constable Gary O’Brien with Nanaimo RCMP says alcohol may have played a factor in this case.
Police are not commenting on the relationship between the woman and the suspect.
They are now recommending a number of charges, ranging from forceful confinement to assault causing bodily harm, against the suspect, who will be making a court appearance later today.
This latest violent crime comes on the heels of a stabbing involving a 16-year-old girl in the area of Fairway Crescent on Tuesday. A 19-year-old man has now been charged with attempted murder in connection with the attack.
Last week, two people were killed and two others injured in a workplace shooting at a Nanaimo mill.
A 47-year-old man, a former employee, has been charged with first-degree and attempted murder.
Nanaimo RCMP say while the recent wave of violence is concerning, the crimes have been targeted acts.
They say the per thousand occurrences of violent crimes have actually been decreasing in Nanaimo.
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