Suspect arrested after allegedly driving stolen truck through Mission, B.C. park to escape police: RCMP

A man was arrested Sunday after an extremely large police presence was seen in Mission, Saturday evening, as police tried to stop a stolen truck.

Police said on Sunday a suspect evaded police in a stolen white Ford truck, by driving through a park, smashing through a fence and onto an adjacent street.

Shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, Mission RCMP officers responded to a call of a man driving erratically and doing burnouts in a parking lot in the Hatzic area. Before police arrived, the suspect left the area.

The suspect allegedly was seen a short while later near Cedar Street and Egglestone Avenue, police said.

“Officers quickly located the truck nearby in the parking lot of Griner Park on Cherry Avenue, but the truck escaped by driving through the park, smashing through a fence, and departing via an adjacent street,” said Const. Harrison Mohr.

“The truck was found abandoned a few blocks away near Centennial Park and was confirmed to have been stolen.”

Mission RCMP issued a statement Sunday evening saying the suspect, Jaydin Dewitte, was located and taken into custody without incident around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

“With the help of police dogs and the Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team, officers determined that the driver had since fled to an area around 11 Avenue and Dunsmuir Street in Mission,” Mohr said.

“The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be provided at a later date. Mission RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance in this matter.”

“Dewitte was also the subject of police investigations in several other Lower Mainland communities over the past couple of days, and he may again travel to a different area of the region,” Mohr said.

No word yet on what charges could be recommended.