WAVERLEY: A mother and her two daughters from Waverley are in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the car they were in was hit by a vehicle that was fleeing police on Waverley Road, near Silversides subdivision on Jan. 5.
Halifax Regional Police (HRP) say at 3:15 p.m. they responded to a call of a theft in progress at Best Buy in Dartmouth Crossing. The suspects fled in a Orange Pontiac Vibe, and while leaving the suspect struck a parked vehicle. The suspects were also photographed passing several cars on Waverley Road with oncoming traffic and on a double line.
Officers with HRP located the suspect vehicle on Main Street in Dartmouth and activated emergency lights and siren attempting to stop the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle did not stop and fled from police.
“While fleeing police the suspect vehicle struck a marked police van with two officers, head on with emergency equipment activated,” said police in the release. “Neither officer was injured.”
The suspect vehicle continued outbound onto Waverley Road. The pursuit was called off.
A Halifax District RCMP patrol member observed the suspect vehicle on Waverley Road. The RCMP car did not attempt to stop the vehicle.
However, at 3:45 p.m. the suspect vehicle struck another vehicle near the 1900 block of Waverley Road, injuring an adult female and two children. The victims are all from the Silversides area.
“Three suspects fled on foot,” said HRP in the release. “The RCMP member arrested two suspects near the vehicle.”
RCMP, with a police service dog and HRP members, conducted a track for the remaining suspect.
At 4 p.m. the police service dog located and arrested the remaining suspect in the 60 block of Rolling Hills Drive.
Residents told The Laker they had police officers and police dogs on their property as they searched for the remaining suspect. One resident was keeping the community abreast with posts on the neighbourhood Facebook page.
Patrol members and investigators with the General Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division continue to investigate this theft and vehicle collision.
The three adults remain in police custody and were to face a bail hearing later Jan. 6, police said in a release posted early in the wee hours.
Courtney Lynn Shea of Dartmouth, the 33-year-old female driver, was charged with one count each of theft and possession under $5000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, flight from police and two counts each of failing to stop at the scene of an accident and of assaulting police.
Kevin Charles Purcell of Beaver Bank, a 38-year-old male passenger, was charged with one count of theft and possession under $5000.
Stephen Andrew Coleman of Halifax, a 29-year-old male passenger, was charged with one count each of theft and possession under $5000, resist arrest and breach of a recognizance.
All three accused appeared in court today.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to call police at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or by using the P3 Tips app.