Image: AbbyPD / Ammunition, weapons and firearm that were located during a traffic stop involving a stolen vehicle Tuesday night (Dec. 17) in Abbotsford.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Violent offender

Abbotsford PD captures violent offender who breached court order

Dec 18, 2024 | 12:29 PM

ABBOTSFORD — A 35-year-old man is facing charges following a traffic stop involving a stolen vehicle Tuesday night in Abbotsford.

AbbyPD says its patrol officers were conducting routine patrols in the 3300 block of Trethewey Street in Abbotsford when they identified a stolen vehicle. Officers pinned the vehicle so that it could not escape and arrested the driver, later identified as Andrew Meeches, without incident.

Police say a search of the vehicle revealed a variety of weapons, notably a firearm.

“This is just another example of a violent offender out on probation at the time of his arrest having no regard for court-ordered conditions,” AbbyPD said.

It was the second incident in 24 hours involving a stolen vehicle in Abbotsford.

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Abbotsford Police say a 37-year-old man was arrested Monday night after he stole a vehicle and tried to flee from authorities by ramming police vehicles in the parking lot of an Abbotsford hotel.

According to a statement from AbbyPD Sgt. Paul Walker, a member of the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service located a stolen Toyota Tacoma pickup truck on Monday night at 9:20 p.m. The vehicle had been traveling eastbound on Highway 1 from the Coquitlam area after it was stolen during a residential break and enter in Burnaby on Saturday, Dec. 14. The vehicle was secretly tracked into Abbotsford with assistance from Abbotsford PD plainclothes officers until it entered the parking lot of the Sandman Hotel on Mount Lehman Road just off Highway 1 in Abbotsford.

The truck was observed backing into a parking stall, enabling additional Abbotsford PD officers and K9 officers to move in an attempt to pin it. The driver of the stolen truck attempted to flee by ramming police vehicles. However, officers were successful in pining the vehicle in.

Sgt. Walker says the suspect continued to be noncompliant with police direction and was seen reaching around in the vehicle, which officers suspected was in search of a weapon. Due to the ongoing non-compliance of the suspect and belief that a weapon was present, police utilized less lethal bean bag rounds and a police dog in an effort to gain the suspect’s compliance and take him into custody. A 37-year-old man from the Lower Mainland, who has a significant criminal history was arrested.

“Daily, our officers continue to confront repeat violent offenders participating in multi-jurisdictional crimes,” AbbyPD Sgt. Walker said. “These offences have a severe impact on victims and significantly affect public safety within our communities. Our officers routinely encounter violent situations, similar to what occurred last night. The Abbotsford Police Department is recommending multiple criminal charges in relation to the events in Abbotsford last night and are also collaborating with Burnaby RCMP regarding their investigation.”

During a search of the stolen vehicle, police recovered a firearm in the area the suspect had been reaching, along with stolen items from the Burnaby residential break-in. At the time of the man’s arrest he was on probation and had an outstanding warrant from another province.

The suspect was transported to hospital with minor injuries but has since been released and is currently being held while he awaits a morning bail hearing. Police are recommending numerous charges.