A 31-year-old individual is currently facing 18 charges following a series of break-ins reported within a short timeframe in the western part of St. John’s over the recent weekend. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary stated that at approximately 4 a.m. NT on Saturday, law enforcement officers were called to a residence on Heavy Tree Road concerning a break-and-enter incident. By the time the police arrived, the suspect had already departed the scene.
During the investigation, a crashed vehicle was discovered on the same road segment, unoccupied. This vehicle was identified as the same stolen vehicle that had evaded an earlier attempted traffic stop that same night. Authorities suspected that the driver of the vehicle was also the suspect involved in the break-in.
While searching for the suspect, two additional reports of break-ins were received from residences on the same street. The second break-in was reported at 4:06 a.m., followed by another incident at 4:14 a.m., which allegedly involved a confrontation resulting in minor injuries to the homeowner. The statement mentioned that the suspect escaped on the homeowner’s bicycle during the last break-in.
Canine units were deployed to track down the individual, who was apprehended around 4:40 a.m. near Robert E. Howlett Drive after a brief altercation with law enforcement officers. The suspect initially provided a false identity, displayed signs of impairment, and declined a drug recognition assessment during the arrest.
The individual is now confronting 18 charges, including robbery with violence, three counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of possession of stolen property, assault causing bodily harm, and other related offenses. Additionally, the suspect was taken into custody for several outstanding warrants and is scheduled to appear in court as per official sources.