Police chase, gunfire lead to arrest
Police investigate a crime scene on Loch Lomond Road Tuesday afternoon following a police incident. Nearby residents say they heard multiple gunshots and screeching of tires during the incident. Photo: Justin Samanski-Langille/Telegraph-Journal
SAINT JOHN • Police say Tuesday's vehicle pursuit that involved an officer firing a weapon is part of an ongoing "feud between different groups."
On Tuesday, one officer discharged his weapon and police vehicles were damaged while pursuing and stopping a suspect vehicle connected to reports of a man pointing an "assault style weapon" at the caller, Saint John Police Force Staff Sgt. Tony Hayes said Wednesday.
The incident prompted neighbours living in the Loch Lomond area to express concerns over what they described as escalating gun violence in the city.
"It’s scary. It makes me want to pack my (stuff) and get the hell out of here," said Stephanie Chaisson, who lives on Loch Lomond Road with her four-year-old son.
Her house is just metres from the scene of Tuesday's car chase and shooting.
A 21-year-old man was arrested in the incident. Hayes said there were no injuries, Hayes said.
Hayes said officers were not fired upon during the incident and was unable to say what the officer was firing at.
Chaisson said she has lived in the city her entire life and has never experienced this much gun violence before, especially on the city's east side.
“The east side is usually the quiet part of the city," she said. "This is now the third or fourth shooting in a few weeks, which is pretty terrifying.”
Hayes said officers are working hard to address public concerns.
“When we have a grouping of gun related incidents, it causes concern for us and for the public," said Hayes.
"Guns are present in the city with the criminal element and we want to put out there that these are a grouping of incidents which are occurring within the same group of people and it is being dealt with."
The incident on Loch Lomond Road follows a pair of shootings on the east side that occurred within a week.
On July 13, a 22-year old man was taken to hospital following a shooting on Mountain Road.
Then, on July 17, a 17-year-old man was shot in a reported drive-by shooting on Mystery Lake Drive.
Hayes said the individuals involved in all three incidents were known to each other and some of the individuals police are looking at in their investigation are known to police and have a criminal history.
“This would be a type of feud between different groups," he said. "At this present time they are not going out and seeking out people who are not involved in those associations.”
Police also said they are bringing a "large amount" of resources "to bear on these individuals and their activities."
Meanwhile, the Saint John Police Force is bringing in an external agency to investigate Tuesday's incident that resulted in an officer discharging his weapon, Hayes said. That yet-to-be-determined agency will review the incident, in order to maintain transparency, Hayes said.