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We’ve mentioned this before, but did you know that conservation officers (CO) in British Columbia have the power to arrest people, carry out search warrants and enforce the Criminal Code?
Well, they can, and that power was put to good use by CO Ron Leblanc and his colleagues recently.
“As uniformed, armed law enforcement officers, this also means COs have access to police dispatch radios,” explained a post from the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS).
“It’s how COs in Smithers found themselves in the right place at the right time to help RCMP arrest a robbery suspect who allegedly held up a store with a knife and a needle.”
According to the BCCOS, Leblanc and company were grabbing a coffee before a long drive to a remote patrol cabin when they heard the call of robbery in progress over the police radio.
After hearing the location was less than two blocks away and the suspect had fled the scene, the COs turned on their lights and sirens to join police in patrols of the area.
They received a description of the suspect and spotted him moments later, so Leblanc jumped out of the truck and chased the suspect.
“It was just like out of a movie,” said Leblanc. “As he’s running, the cash is falling out of his pocket as we’re chasing him.”
Leblanc eventually caught up to and apprehended the suspect, who was arrested as officers converged on the scene.
The man is facing a number of charges.
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