A coordinated effort between Langley RCMP, Surrey Provincial Operational Support Unit (SPOSU) and the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team (LMD-IERT) led to the successful arrest of a suspect following a dangerous series of events involving a suspected stolen semi-truck.
On Wednesday, May 14 at approximately 7:35 p.m., officers from the Langley Special Response Team (SRT) observed a semi-truck in the area of 24 Avenue and 206 Street bearing mismatched license plates. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, May 15, officers attempted a vehicle stop with the support of Integrated Police Dog Services. As police lights were activated, the driver, later confirmed to be a 40-year-old man, immediately began ramming police vehicles.
Despite police attempts to disengage, the suspect continued his aggressive actions by pursuing and intentionally ramming police vehicles before fleeing. A tire deflation device was deployed by SRT which successfully deflated the semi-truck’s front right tire, but the vehicle continued to flee at high speed. The suspect’s driving behaviour posed a significant risk to public and police safety; therefore, the Langley RCMP frontline officers initiated a pursuit to stop the threat.
The semi-truck traveled into Surrey, through multiple residential neighborhoods. A second spike belt, deployed by SPOSU, successfully disabled the semi-truck’s rear tires. The suspect continued to flee, driving dangerously at high speeds, disregarding red lights and overtaking multiple vehicles. The pursuit led northbound on 176 Street to Highway 17, and then westbound into the Bridgeview area of Surrey.
In a final reckless manoeuvre, the semi-truck was driven into a public dock area occupied by several dozen people. The semi-truck continued off an embankment and into the Fraser River. The suspect then fled the submerged vehicle on foot and was arrested with the assistance of LMD-IERT a short distance away.
“This was an incredibly dangerous situation involving a suspect who showed zero regard for public safety or the lives of our officers,” said Sgt. Zynal Sharoom, Media Relations Officer for Langley RCMP. “Thanks to the skill, coordination, and professionalism of multiple policing units, this individual was safely taken into custody without injury to the public or police.”
Police said the suspect remains in police custody at this time pending further investigation. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident who has not yet spoken with police is asked to contact the Langley RCMP and reference file number 2025-14838.
