A 40-year-old man is in custody after he went on an alleged crime spree Tuesday evening, driving a Ford F-150 up on the sidewalk and forcibly entering a North Cowichan home where a resident was then assaulted.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP said the incident occurred at around 6 p.m. when the man is reported to have entered a business on Trunk Road and demanded money from the till.
The Cowichan Bay man then drove to Rockridge Road in the Municipality of North Cowichan and allegedly assaulted a man before returning to Duncan Mall in his pickup truck in a “very unsafe manner at a high rate of speed,” police said.
RCMP received numerous calls reporting seeing the black truck going the wrong way and up on the sidewalk creating a potential danger to both motorists and pedestrians.
“We are very thankful no one injured in the parking lot,” said Cpl. Krista Hobday. “It could have ended a lot differently.”
Police were able to bring Ryan William McDonald into custody and he is scheduled to appear before a provincial court judge later Wednesday afternoon.
McDonald is facing charges for Assault, Forcible Entry, Unlawfully in a Dwelling House $5,000, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Mischief Under $5,000.
The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP is appealing to the public for any information related to these offences that they may have witnessed or have become privy to since the incidents.
You may call the office directly at 250-748-5522 or alternately you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest or the recovery of stolen property or the seizure of illicit drugs, you could be eligible for a cash award.