Image: Supplied by Jill Hall / A suspect's presence on top of a Burden Propane truck led to a standoff with the Chilliwack RCMP back in November, according to longtime Chilliwack resident and realtor Jill Hall. The ordeal lasted approximately 20 minutes while the RCMP engaged with the male suspect on top of the propane truck.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Propane truck incident

Chilliwack realtor recounts propane truck hijacking on South Sumas Road

Dec 23, 2022 | 6:40 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack RCMP naturally don’t have the time and resources to notify the Chilliwack community about every high-profile incident that attracts a swarm of RCMP officers.

But a Chilliwack realtor says it was still highly unusual to see a man standing on top of a Burden Propane truck on South Sumas Road, engaged in a standoff with RCMP officers, sometime in November.

Jill Hall, a longtime Chilliwack resident and local real estate agent, witnessed most of the event that lasted approximately 20 minutes and happened east of Greendale on South Sumas Road. Her recollection began when she and her family heard multiple police sirens near her home.

Image: Supplied by JIll Hall / RCMP vehicles park on South Sumas Road after a man apparently hijacked a Burden Propane truck sometime in November, leading to a standoff with police for approximately 20 minutes.

“We heard all the sirens and saw the RCMP parked [outside],” said Hall, who supplied the picture of the suspect standing on top of the propane truck as well as the RCMP vehicles stationed on South Sumas Road. “My son then heard someone yelling for help, but it was the guy on top of the propane truck. One of the first vehicles that showed up was the RCMP dog guy. I’m not sure if they were chasing him. The driver of the propane truck was over at my neighbour’s driveway.”

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Fraser Valley Today reached out to Burden Propane, the owner of the propane truck, but did not hear back from them. RCMP Sgt. Mike Sargent said he would try to get return an email seeking comment and clarification about the incident. He said the RCMP detachment did not have any information on the incident.

“I have checked with the Operations Officer at the Chilliwack Detachment and they are not familiar with any reports related to the photo you sent me. Wish I could be more help,” Sgt. Sargent wrote.

It wasn’t clear how or why the suspect hijacked the Burden Propane truck.

“There was a standoff for approximately 20 minutes as the man on top of the propane truck refused to get off, while he smoked a cigarette,” Hall recounted. “We heard him yell at one of the RCMP officers, ‘I remember you! You arrested me in Quesnel, but you also saved my life!'”

As Hall stood there watching the entire event unfold with members of her family, and hearing what was being said by the suspect as well as RCMP officers, she said the unknown suspect apparently missed his court date on more than one occasion.

“I don’t know if it was a mental [health situation], the suspect was really concerned the cops were going to kill him,” Hall recounted. “He told police not to get get near him. The guy had multiple court cases.”

One female RCMP officer, Hall said, announced quite loudly during the incident that the suspect was trying to steal the propane truck.

“In the end they got him down and into the RCMP car,” Hall said. “We were out there the whole time. It was quite interesting. You go outside and see someone on top of a propane tank.”

As for the suspect apparently missing multiple court dates, Hall said the criminal justice system needs improvements.

“It’s a revolving door,” Hall said. “They keep charging and releasing. The system is not working.”