Here’s a roundup of crime news from around Metro Vancouver and B.C. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025
More charges for violent break-in suspect: Surrey police
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A man facing charges for a series of violent break and enters in South Surrey last week has been hit with more charges related to another incident.
David William Charles Hoffman was arrested on Feb. 26 and charged with two counts of break and enter, one count of assault, two of mischief and one of failing to comply with a release order.
After that arrest, Hoffman was allegedly involved in another violent break-in at a Fraser Health medical facility.
On Monday, a third count of break and enter was added to Hoffman’s charge sheet, along with attempted robbery, escape from custody, assaulting and trying to disarm a police officer, assault by choking and common assault.
Hoffman is in jail until a scheduled court appearance on Friday for a bail hearing.
One cop nabs two excessive speeders at same time
A speeding driver who thought he’d escaped attention after another car had been pulled over learned an expensive lesson when he was nabbed by the same cop.
A B.C. RCMP highway patrol officer saw two sedans speeding excessively in the same eastbound lane of Highway 1 at Popkum Road on Friday afternoon.
“Some drivers believe that police can only stop one vehicle at a time, so speeding is safe as long as someone else is also speeding,” said highway patrol spokesman Cpl. Michael McLaughlin. “That mistaken theory … is the reason that two cars are currently sitting in an impound lot near Chilliwack.”
McLaughlin explained that highway patrol vehicles have cameras, radar and laser speed readers, which clocked both cars reaching up to 192 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
“The first driver pulled over immediately, but the second driver required persuasion by phone to return to the scene when it was explained that he and his vehicle had already been identified.”
The drivers, one from Surrey and one a foreign national in a rental, were both given seven-day vehicle impounds and tickets for excessive speed. Both were also cited for failing to update their addresses.
“These excessive speeders, who were friends with each other, have learned a valuable lesson,” said McLaughlin. “Once their cars were towed, B.C. highway patrol gave them a ride to a local Tim Hortons to think over their life choices.
“We encourage other drivers to do the same before they make the decision to speed.”
Sweep of Mission dial-a-dopers leads to three arrests
A months-long sweep of Chilliwack’s street-level drug trade has resulted in seizures of large quantities of drugs, four guns, cash and two cars.
The Chilliwack RCMP drug unit started the investigation in October 2024 into a trafficking group thought to be operating a dial-a-dope line out of Mission.
Three people were arrested and have been released while the investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call Chilliwack RCMP or Crime Stoppers, 1-800-222-8477.
Officer swarmed during nightclub fight in Prince George
Mounties patrolling after closing time outside a Prince George nightclub early Sunday were swarmed by a large crowd when they tried to intervene in a fight between two women.
The officers were keeping an eye on the crowds leaving a nightclub at about 3 a.m. when they saw the women fighting. When the officer tried to arrest the main suspect, she became uncooperative, said Prince George RCMP.
“A large crowd began to swarm around the police officer, reaching out and grabbing at the lone officer in an attempt to stop him from arresting the suspect,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper in a statement Tuesday. “This was a very volatile situation and the police officer quickly called for backup as he determined his safety, the safety of the suspect and the safety of the people in the crowd to be at risk.”
Several officers responded and three people were taken to the local RCMP detachment and released.
“This is a reminder to the public that you may not always know what is going on or why a person is under arrest.” Anyone who thinks there is an issue with an arrest is urged to follow up with police after the fact rather than jump into the fray, said Cooper.
Stolen cab leads to arrest in Kamloops
Mounties in Kamloops are investigating after a taxi was reported stolen from Hope, leading to a failed traffic stop, the abandonment of the cab and an arrest.
Just before 5 a.m. Tuesday, Kamloops RCMP were called to Battle Street where a Toyota Corolla taxi was being driven after being reported stolen.
“Police officers attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle on 8th Street, but it allegedly failed to comply and continued south,” said Cpl. Crystal Evelyn. “The taxi was located abandoned soon after on Dominion Street.”
A police dog unit searched the area but no one was located, while the vehicle was seized for forensic analysis.
Officers took a man into custody later that morning and charges are expected.
Anyone with information is asked to call Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.