HAMAN Lamar Benamaisia, 31, of Coquitlam man is facing charges after a driver in a pickup truck sped away from police, carjacked another vehicle, and caused multiple collisions on February 16, Coquitlam RCMP announced on Monday.

Benamaisia, who is well-known to police, currently faces one count of robbery and one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle related to the carjacking.

At 10 a.m. on February 16, a police car tried to stop a pickup truck in a parking lot in the 3000-block of Lougheed Highway. The driver sped away, crashed the pickup truck, carjacked a sedan, and then crashed the sedan before running away near the Coquitlam River.

“This has been a high-priority file from the moment it started,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “The Coquitlam RCMP Investigative Support Team has been using all the expert resources at its disposal to ensure a solid, complete investigation. More evidence is being processed and more charges are possible. We have no other suspects.”

Benamaisia was arrested without incident on Friday, April 21 – the same day that a warrant was issued. He is currently in custody in Coquitlam and his next court appearance is Thursday, April 27.