After a lengthy police pursuit that occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 39-year-old William Matthew Morris of Bishop's Falls was arrested by RCMP NL.
Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Gander RCMP received a report of a stolen transport truck being operated by a suspected impaired driver that was last seen heading east on the TCH towards Lewisporte. RCMP officers from Gander and Traffic Services Central immediately responded.
The transport truck, which was without a trailer, was located by RCMP Traffic Services in Glenwood and failed to stop for police, continuing eastbound on the TCH. A number of additional RCMP resources responded to the call for service with multiple deployments of a spike belt. The tires of the truck were successfully flattened, however the driver continued to operate the truck in a dangerous manner, refusing to stop for police. Multiple police vehicles, with emergency lights and sirens activated, continued to follow the truck. Police vehicles were positioned in front of and behind the transport truck to alert oncoming motorists. Social media posts were issued to alert motorists of the situation.
Shortly before 6:30 p.m., the truck came to a stop in Terra Nova National Park with multiple RCMP vehicles at the scene. William Morris was removed from the vehicle and was arrested. Open alcohol was recovered from inside the truck and signs of alcohol impairment were observed. Morris failed to provide a roadside breath sample.
He appears in court today and is charged with the following criminal offences:
- Theft of motor vehicle
- Flight from police
- Dangerous operation – two counts
- Failure to comply with a breath demand
- Failure to comply with a condition of release order
RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.