Mounties in B.C. say a 25-year-old man has been arrested after stealing a fishing boat and ramming into a police vessel as he attempted to evade officers. Police board a boat in this June 16, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — RCMP (Mandatory Credit)
Police say a man who stole a fishing boat tried to ram an RCMP vessel and shot flares at them while being pursued in the waters off Prince Rupert earlier this week.
Mounties say they arrested the 25-year-old alleged boat thief after a dangerous nighttime chase that ``quickly escalated’’, including the operator allegedly using the boat’s VHF radio to threaten police, as the rogue vessel evaded two police boats.
RCMP say the chase lasted for more than an hour and ended after the man ran the stolen vessel aground.
Mounties say the chase ``endangered everyone on the water,’’ but no one was injured during the risky aquatic pursuit.
Police say the stolen boat was recovered and towed away, while the alleged thief has not yet been charged.
They say the case involved multiple agencies, including the RCMP’s West Coast Marine services, Prince Rupert and Port Hardy RCMP, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Metlakatla First Nation.