Charges have been approved against the man believed to be behind the wheel in a 2019 hit-and-run that left two police officers injured.
The suspect now faces two counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, two counts of failing to stop after an accident causing bodily harm, and one count of public mischief, police said in a Tuesday news release.
According to Burnaby RCMP, the hit-and-run took place on March 4, 2019 in the southern part of the city. The driver used a stolen vehicle, which was found not far from the collision.
The suspect was said to have sped off into oncoming traffic, and officers believed it was too dangerous to pursue. Shortly afterward, he drove into the area where the K9 officers were training their dogs, and struck a police vehicle.
The victims were two police officers from the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service. One was a Mountie and the other was from the Abbotsford Police Department.
At the time of the accident, BC Emergency Health Services said both were in critical condition.
“This hit and run has had a significant impact on the two officers who were seriously injured while on the job,” said Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Alexa Hodgins in the Tuesday statement.
“The investigation has spanned more than three years, with our Criminal Collision Investigation Team working tirelessly to conduct a thorough investigation that has now resulted in charges.”
— with files from Simon Little