Erratic driver at large on warrant arrested after fleeing from RCMP #nltraffic

Twenty-three-year-old Zachary Bartlett of Salmonier was arrested by Springdale RCMP after a report of an erratic driver on Route 390.

When police responded they located the described vehicle. Officers attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle sped away. It was located a short time later on Route 392 parked on a parking lot by Davis Pond.

Officers pulled in to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle attempted to flee and backed into a metal post where it got stuck. The driver made multiple efforts to free the car, placing it in drive and reverse, but was unsuccessful.

Police approached the car, informed the driver that he was under arrest and ordered him to turn the vehicle off and exit but he and the other occupants refused to get out of the vehicle.

Further attempts were made by the driver to free the car and it caught fire. At that point, the occupants exited the vehicle and police extinguished the blaze.

The driver, Zachary Bartlett, was suspended from driving and was wanted on an arrest warrant. He was arrested for flight from police. A quantity of contraband cannabis and prescription medications were located on Bartlett and within the vehicle.

Bartlett appeared in court and was remanded into custody. He is charged with the following criminal offences:

• Dangerous operation of motor vehicle

• Resisting arrest

• Flight from police

• Mischief under $5,000.00 (damage to property)

• Breach of a court order

• Possession of a controlled substance

In addition, Bartlett was charged with a number of summary offence tickets, including having unsealed cannabis within a vehicle, no registration, no insurance and driving while suspended. The car was seized and impounded.

A 19-year-old female passenger was also wanted on a warrant. She was arrested and later released on conditions by police.