Yellowknife Man Faces Nearly 20 Charges After Police Pursuit and Crash

Yellowknife Man Faces Nearly 20 Charges After Police Pursuit and Crash

A 26-year-old Yellowknife man is facing nearly 20 criminal charges after police investigating a vehicle collision say they recovered a stolen SUV, a firearm and ammunition.

The incident began Thursday when RCMP officers on bicycle patrol were alerted that an SUV had struck another vehicle near Walmart before leaving the scene.

Police said officers soon located the SUV nearby and found a man outside the vehicle who was believed to be the driver.

According to RCMP, the man got back into the SUV and drove away when officers attempted to intervene.

The vehicle was later found abandoned at a dead-end, police said. Investigators determined that it had recently been reported stolen.

With help from police dog services and a drone, officers located the suspect hiding in bushes in the area and arrested him.

RCMP said a search following the arrest allegedly led to the discovery of a folding rifle and ammunition in the suspect’s possession.

Police also reported that the man appeared to be intoxicated. Breath samples taken at the Yellowknife detachment allegedly showed a blood-alcohol level above the legal driving limit.

Clayton Koe has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired driving, driving with a blood-alcohol concentration exceeding 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood, failing to remain at the scene of a collision and driving without a licence.

The firearm-related allegations include careless use of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possessing a prohibited weapon without authorization, possessing a firearm in a motor vehicle, possessing a prohibited firearm with ammunition without a licence, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order.

Koe is also charged with fleeing from police, resisting a police officer, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking and possessing liquor at an unlawful place.

RCMP said Koe appeared in court for a bail hearing and was remanded in custody.