A 40-year-old man from Hartland, N.B., and a 26-year-old man from St. Stephen, N.B., have been charged following a flight from police in Oak Bay, N.B.
On December 10, 2024, at approximately 1:50 a.m., the St. Stephen RCMP attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Highway 1, near Oak Bay. As police approached, the driver of the vehicle performed a U-turn, and started driving into the oncoming traffic.
Shortly after, a tire deflation device was successfully deployed, but the vehicle kept travelling at a low speed. After several kilometres, the vehicle came to a stop on Loop Road, in Upper Mills. A 40-year-old man and a 26-year-old man were arrested at the scene without incident.
Subsequent to the arrest, police were able to determine that the vehicle used was stolen. Police conducted a search of the vehicle and seized a loaded weapon, a prohibited weapon, hard-plate body armour, and other items.
On December 10, 2024, 26-year-old Kody Hiltz appeared in Saint John Provincial Court and was charged with:
- Resisting arrest
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Careless use of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of firearm
- Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Weapons possession contrary to an order and failure to surrender authorization
- Failure to comply with a probation order
- Driving motor vehicle while being prohibited
- Flight from police
He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
The same day, 40-year-old Patrick Thomas Harris, appeared in Saint John Provincial Court and was charged with:
- Careless use of a firearm
- Unauthorized possession of firearm
- Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Weapons possession contrary to an order and failure to surrender authorization
- Failure to comply with a probation order
- Assault of a police officer with a weapon
He was remanded into custody and is scheduled to return to court at a later date.
"The New Brunswick RCMP is committed to reducing crime in rural areas and removing illegal firearms from our communities to make our province safer," said Cpl. Peter Lambert of the St. Stephen RCMP. " I would like to commend the officers involved for their professionalism and effective coordination, which ensured a safe resolution to the situation without any injuries to the public."
The investigation is ongoing.