St. Johns, CAN - Assault Suspect Steals Pepper Spray From RCMP Officer - Steals Police Cruiser - Officer Fires Shots - Suspect Escapes

Cbc.ca 11-09 -09

A man was arrested following a mishap-laden incident in the Labrador community of Sheshatshiu on Friday night.

RCMP received a call at about 11:30 p.m. AT about a disturbance in a home, a spokesperson for the Mounties said.

When constables arrived, they found about a dozen people drinking and a woman complaining that a man had assaulted her, police said.

Police tried to arrest the man but he became combative and resisted, the RCMP said.

That prompted the officers to use pepper spray to try to subdue him.

However, the Mounties said the man was able to grab the spray away from them and tried to use it on them.

He then fled the home and jumped into the police cruiser parked outside and sped away.

A local resident provided transportation for the RCMP constables, and the chase was on.

The man was located in another area of town, and police approached the car and ordered the driver to get out.

They say the man refused and drove the car at one of the officers. A Mountie fired his gun at the cruiser, but the driver was unharmed and sped away once again.

The man finally returned to the original residence and surrendered to police without further incident.

No one was injured, however the RCMP cruiser sustained some damage.

Frank Pokue, 37, of Sheshatshiu has been charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon, theft of a motor vehicle and impaired driving.

He'll make a court appearance in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on Monday afternoon.

Members of the RCMP's major crimes unit will be travelling from Corner Brook and Gander to Labrador to conduct the investigation
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