The RCMP Emergency Response Team, police dogs and a helicopter converged on Port Alberni Friday afternoon (July 22) after a man who stole a BC Ambulance Service support vehicle on the west coast was spotted in the central Island city.

The support vehicle鈥攏ot an ambulance鈥攚as stolen in Ucluelet around 1:45 p.m. that day, Port Alberni RCMP Const. Richard Johns said. The emergency response team and helicopter were called in after Ucluelet RCMP made contact with the man and determined that he was potentially armed with a crossbow and a shotgun.

Police received a report from a homeowner near Airport Road, west of Port Alberni, that the man and BCAS vehicle were on his property; all available units from Port Alberni RCMP joined the pursuit.

鈥淢embers were able to engage the vehicle in Port Alberni as well as Ucluelet,鈥� Johns said. An RCMP member spotted the stolen vehicle on Coleman Road and attempted to stop it, but the man 鈥渢ook off at a high rate of speed,鈥� according to Johns. Because RCMP were able to track the vehicle鈥檚 GPS they did not give chase.

At 4 p.m. the vehicle was recovered and officers found the man nearby. 鈥淗e was arrested without issue,鈥� Johns said.

The man was a suspect in a case of a stolen vehicle and uttering threats in View Royal and multiple break and enters in Sooke between July 19 and 20.

Ucluelet was full of tourists from July 22-24 for the annual Ukee Days celebration at the fairgrounds.

鈥淲e received a lot of reports from the public,鈥� Johns said. 鈥淧eople had a lot of concern for a BCAS vehicle that was being operated in a manner that was odd,鈥� and that the person behind the wheel did not look like a paramedic, he said.

鈥淲e appreciated the reports from the public, as well as the response from the Emergency Response Team, RCMP Dog Services and air aid.鈥�

One man is in custody and was awaiting a bail hearing Monday, he added.

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