Car chase ends in arrest

On the evening of April 13, Allan Douglas Carroll was seen turning around before reaching the checkpoint set up by the Queens RCMP.

Const. Grant Webber with the Queens RCMP said police followed him through the Charleston area until he finally pulled over.

According to Const. Webber there is a whole policy behind what he calls a hazardous pursuit.

A Staff Sergeant via radio controls most of the police’s actions on whether to continue the chase and how to proceed. “It all depends on traffic conditions,” explained Const. Webber, “if it’s in the middle of the night or who is around.”

He said usually there is a big difference between downtown Halifax and rural Nova Scotia in how a chase will be dictated.

He said the policies are in place to protect both the public and the officers involved in the chase. “If he stole gas at the Irving you are not going to put people’s lives in jeopardy for a property crime,” said Const. Webber.

He explained that each case was dealt with differently depending on the situation.

Although the pursuit with Carroll did not last long, Const. Webber said that sometimes they would follow behind an eluding vehicle until it runs out of gas. “Or we can put out a spike belt on an intersection,” he said, adding with a chuckle that the police don’t shoot out the tires anymore. “You don’t know how fast he is going until you get to him,” said Webber noting that Carroll didn’t pose too much of a threat with speed. “All he had was a little Escort so I don’t think he would have gone very fast anyway.”

When police finally pulled Carroll over they found he had two warrants for his arrest in Halifax involving theft, fraud and possession of stolen property.

The 44-year old faces charges of dangerous driving, evading a police officer, failure to appear in court and two additional Motor Vehicle Act Violations.

His bail hearing will be held April 23.