A police dog helped Surrey RCMP officers arrest an alleged “prolific offender” from New Westminster.
Surrey RCMP is reporting that the arrest occurred when its gang enforcement team and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team were conducting proactive patrols about 9 p.m. on Sept. 3.
“After initiating a traffic stop of a vehicle in the 6400 block of 121 Street, the vehicle sped off at a high rate of speed,” said a Surrey RCMP press release. “Officers were able to deploy a spike belt to quickly stop the vehicle.”
A police dog from the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Services helped locate a man, who was taken into custody.
According to Surrey RCMP, a search of the man and the vehicle revealed two replica handguns and bear spray. Police also discovered modifications to the vehicle that appeared to mimic police vehicle emergency lights.
Surrey RCMP said Justin Mercieca, a 29-year-old New West resident, was charged with multiple offences including: flight from police; dangerous operation of motor vehicle; three counts of possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose; possession of an identity document that relates or purports to another person; and driving while prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Act. He remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance.
The patrols are part of the Surrey RCMP and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team’s ongoing violence suppression efforts in Surrey.
“Gang enforcement officers from Surrey and CFSEU-BC are out conducting roving patrols, targeting dangerous offenders and those involved in criminal activity … who put the safety of other’s at risk in our community,” Surrey RCMP spokesperson Const. Sarbjit K. Sangha said in a news release.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. If they wish to remain anonymous, they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
