Penticton man granted bail after dramatic stolen vehicle getaway attempt

A Penticton man accused of assaulting police officers in a wild stolen vehicle pursuit earlier this month has been released on bail with numerous conditions.

RCMP said 39-year-old John Bourassa faces numerous charges of possessing stolen property, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and assaulting police.

According to police, the stolen vehicle was spotted on Dec. 11 at approximately 10 a.m. in the 600 block of Braid Street.

Police officers from various departments converged on the driver and conducted plainclothes surveillance.

Penticton RCMP said officers tried to block the vehicle and stop it from fleeing but the driver tried to ram his way out and drove into a fence.

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Officers had to jump out of the way, as the driver reversed and smashed into another fence, narrowly missing another police vehicle and officer.

“Due to the extreme danger the driver was putting officers in, a police vehicle was used to push against the vehicle’s rear bumper, pinning it against a fence, preventing it from driving away,” said RCMP Cst. James Grandy.

“While the driver was trying to accelerate forward, officers ran toward it and were able to break a window and remove the driver. After a short struggle with officers, the man was successfully taken into custody.”

On Monday, Grandy said officers with the Targeted Enforcement Unit conducted a curfew check of Bourassa who was already found to be breaching his curfew.

His next court appearance is Jan. 9.