On Tuesday, January Twenty-sixth at 19:30 Hours, New Westminster police patrol officers were dispatched to the pedestrian overpass located in the Four-Hundred Block of Brunette Avenue on report of a male climbing the overpass safety railing at mid-span.

Attending police officers locked down Brunette Avenue to traffic while two patrol officers gained access to the pedestrian overpass. Constable Oliveira and Constable Corazza established contact with the distraught male, opening lines of communication from a close but non-threatening distance away.

Negotiations with the male soon proved successful and he agreed to accompany the officers to Royal Columbian Hospital to receive the care he needed.

The male, a Thirty-Six year old Surrey resident, was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital and held in care under the Mental Health Act.

 On Tuesday January Twenty-Sixth at 0225 Hours, the New Westminster police attended the One-Hundred Block of Eight Avenue on report of a single vehicle motor vehicle incident.

At scene, police discovered that a vehicle, a red Pontiac G6, had lost control striking the sidewalk curb and, after skidding across two residential yards and, crashing through two fences, it spun ninety degrees and slid backwards striking a large tree. The impact with the tree forced the vehicle back onto the roadway colliding with a parked vehicle before coming to rest.

Information was received that the vehicle had three occupants at the time of the collision however, the female driver and a female passenger fled the scene prior to police arrival. Paramedics were on scene to provide medical aid to a male passenger whom was ejected through the vehicles rear window at the time of the collision.

At 0340 Hours, patrol officers searching the area located the female driver and female passenger several blocks away. Police confirmed identification of all three parties.

In spite of the significant speeds and damages involved all three of the occupants were treated for minor injuries and released from Royal Columbian Hospital.

The driver, a nineteen year old female New Westminster resident, was released from police custody. The suspect vehicle, on loan from a local car dealer, has been seized as the investigation continues. Charges are pending.

On Tuesday January 19th at 11:38 hours, New Westminster police officers were on routine patrol in the Seven-Hundred Block of Fourth Street when they observed fire and smoke billowing from the windows of a residential home.

The officers immediately contacted police dispatched requesting Fire Services attend Code-Three.
Officers made efforts to gain entry into the residence but were driven back by heat and flames. New Westminster Fire Services arrived on scene within minutes.

Firefighter’s gained entry, while extinguishing the flames they searched for any inhabitants. Fortunately, there was not anyone in the residence however, rescue crew’s did locate a dog and cat. The cat had expired due to smoke inhalation but the dog was rescued and reportedly in good health.

The residence suffered significant fire damage and is not salvageable. Police officers have located the home owner and are conducting interviews with the homeowner and nearby residents. It is unknown at this time what the cause of the fire is, police and fire investigators continue their investigation. Updates will be provided as they become available.

On Monday, January 18th at 13:56 hours, the New Westminster police responded to a report of a pedestrian motor vehicle incident at the location of Twenty Street at Eight Avenue. At scene, police, fire and, BC Ambulance service crew's attended to the pedestrian, a seventy-eight year old female New Westminster resident, that was struck by a vehicle at or near the Eight Avenue crosswalk.

The injuries to the pedestrian appeared to be significant given the mechanism of injury and trauma to the head area. The pedestrian was stabilized by emergency crews and was immediately transported to Royal Columbian Hospital.

The motorist involved in the collision, a fifty-five year old female New Westminster resident, remained at scene and was interviewed by police investigators. As the pedestrians injuries were possibly life threatening, police investigators immediately locked down the intersection and surrounding area to motorists and pedestrians for several hours.

Traffic analysts examined the scene and seized the subject motor vehicle for the pending mechanical examination. Police investigators interviewed the vehicle driver and witnesses at the scene.

At Royal Columbian Hospital, the victim was treated by emergency room physicians. Initial reports were hopeful of the victims health improving however, sadly later in the evening, the victim succumbed to her injuries.

The police investigation continues. Causative factors in the incident to be identified by investigators. The victim’s next of kin have been notified however, the name of the victim is not being released at this time.

The New Westminster Police Service requests that anyone whom may have witnessed this incident or have any information relating to it, please contact traffic officer Constable Carmel Keenan at 604-529-2444.

At approximately 2145 hours a twenty-four-year-old woman had just gotten into her car in the Starlight Casino Parking Lot. Before she started the car, a male suspect approached and smashed out her front passenger window with a "Club".

The suspect reached into the victim’s car and grabbed her purse before fleeing to a stolen vehicle that was stopped nearby.

Several minutes later the New Westminster Police located the stolen vehicle in the 1400 block of 10th Avenue. The vehicle continued east on 10th Avenue and numerous police units were enroute to assist. The police began to follow the vehicle and activated the emergency lights and attempted to pull over the stolen vehicle.

The stolen vehicle pulled slowly into the Petro Can as if to stop and then fled southbound onto 8th St. The police officer had observed the suspect vehicle drive through a red traffic light without stopping. He then immediately advised that he was discontinuing the pursuit and he pulled over on 8th Street at Hamilton.

The suspect vehicle continued southbound on 8th Street, entering the intersection at 6th Avenue on a red light where it collided with a westbound vehicle. The impact caused this vehicle to spin into a Ford pick up truck which was travelling east on 6th Avenue and waiting to turn left onto 8th Street.

After hitting the first vehicle, the suspect vehicle also spun out of control, striking a third vheicle which had been parked, occupied, facing southbound in the 500 block of 8th Street.

Two of the drivers were taken to RCH by Ambulance. Their injuries were fortunately very minor and they were both treated and released.

When the suspect vehicle came to a stop, witnesses reported that two occupants immediately exited and fled on foot. The driver is described as a caucasian male and the passenger is described by some witnesses as an Asian male while others state the passenger was female.

Although a perimeter was established very quickly and Air One was on-scene within five minutes, the suspects were not located. The search by the police service dog was complicated by large numbers of pedestrians in the area.