RCMP deploy spike belts to stop speeding car on Coquihalla

A man has been charged with multiple serious offences after fleeing from police on the Coquihalla Highway.

On March 17, Merritt RCMP front line officers attempted to stop a grey Chevrolet Tahoe on the Coquihalla Highway near Coldwater Road, after they received multiple reports that the driver may be impaired and was acting erratically inside the vehicle.

The driver fled from officers at a high rate of speed, driving dangerously, almost running multiple vehicles on the road. Spike belts were successfully deployed near Merritt, taking out all four tires on the Tahoe.

The driver eventually stopped for officers and was taken into custody without further incident.

“Events on the highway such as this are very dangerous for the public and police”, says Cpl. Brock Hedrick, “Our officers did an excellent job managing a dynamic and volatile situation to safely take the man into custody without injuries to anyone or any property damage, other than his four tires.”

The following day, Aruthumaran Ambikawathy was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police. He also had multiple warrants out Surrey in relation to an assault. Ambikawathy is set to appear in Court on April 12, 2022, in Surrey.