A man from Rhode Island has been charged following a series of incidents across New Brunswick, including illegal entry into Canada, and flight from police.
The incidents began on May 1, 2022, at approximately 5:15 a.m., at the Woodstock–Houlton border crossing. A 40-year-old man with U.S. citizenship was denied entry into Canada by Canada Border Services Agency officials. After being denied, the man crossed the border illegally in his vehicle. Authorities tried to stop the vehicle, but it fled at a high rate of speed toward Woodstock, N.B. CBSA then contacted the RCMP, who began searching for the vehicle.
At approximately 8:15 a.m., members of the Caledonia Region RCMP near Salisbury located a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the incident at the border. The vehicle was travelling eastbound on Route 2 at a high rate of speed. It failed to stop for police several times. Police attempted to use a tire deflation device near Memramcook but it was unsuccessful.
The vehicle exited the highway onto a dead-end road in Memramcook, followed by marked RCMP vehicles with emergency lights activated. Members attempted to block the vehicle using the police cruisers, causing one of the police vehicles to collide with the suspect's vehicle. The driver was arrested at the scene. The police officer was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries. The suspect was not injured.
On May 2, Thomas Trask, Jr. of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, appeared in Moncton Provincial Court by way of tele-remand and was charged with flight from police. He was remanded into custody. He returned to court on May 4 and the following additional charges were laid against him:
- dangerous operation of a conveyance
- resisting arrest
Thomas Trask, Jr. was remanded into custody. He was ordered to undergo a thirty-day psychiatric assessment and is scheduled to return to court on June 3.
The investigation is ongoing.