Yesterday afternoon the driver in the incident which occurred Sunday afternoon in Saanich was remanded into custody. Charges being suggested by detectives include the following:
• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Impaired driving by drug
• Resisting arrest
• Mischief to property
• Possession of cocaine
Information gathered by detectives revealed that the driver drove directly at a woman on Lavender avenue. As she was unloading groceries from her vehicle, having just finished an overtime shift for extra Christmas money, was forced to jump out of the way of the speeding car.
The driver also drove directly at a Patrol Sergeant’s vehicle causing him to have to avoid a collision by driving into a ditch. Once the car was cornered into an area near Kenneth street off of Glanford avenue, the car was seen by witnesses to drive directly at two officers on foot before it got stuck.
The destruction of private property was significant and included two fences, a shed and much lawn damage. The driver then fled into a wooded area and had to be subdued by a police canine and then taken into custody by up to five officers.
Two search warrants have been conducted, one to search the vehicle and the second for blood samples taken from the driver.
The driver Jared Lee Murphy, a 28 year old Esquimalt resident, remained in hospital throughout the day yesterday and was turned over to the custody of the BC Sheriff’s Service.
11-25999