Man arrested after fleeing traffic stop in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged after fleeing from police during an attempted traffic stop last Friday afternoon, sparking a search that ended with his arrest in Sheshatshiu.

Around 12:00 p.m. on July 25, the RCMP attempted to stop a vehicle on Lyall Street in connection with suspected drug activity. The driver, identified as Benjamin Gregoire, refused to stop and sped away through a residential area. In the interest of public and officer safety, police did not pursue the vehicle.

Later that afternoon, at approximately 1:17 p.m., officers located the vehicle abandoned on a trail behind town hall. The vehicle was seized and impounded.

With support from Sheshatshiu RCMP, Gregoire was located and arrested in the Sheshatshiu area during the early hours of July 26. Police say he resisted arrest and was found in possession of cocaine at the time.

Investigators noted that Gregoire was already bound by strict conditions from a Release Order, having been released from custody just a day earlier on July 24.

He was held in custody and appeared in court on July 27, where he was remanded pending a bail hearing. At his bail hearing on July 28, he was further remanded into custody.

Gregoire now faces several charges, including:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

• Flight from police

• Failure to comply with a release order

• Resisting/obstructing a peace officer

• Possession of a controlled substance (cocaine)