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Disgruntled Whistler driver targets Squamish cop cars

Squamish RCMP detachment rammed, four vehicles out of commission

By Clare Ogilvie

The Squamish RCMP detachment became the site of an impromptu demolition derby Monday after a disgruntled Whistler resident used his car to ram six police cruisers and the building.

“We have had several dealings with (the suspect) and he is well known to us for criminal code and traffic offences and he chose to deal with his frustrations and his life this way,” said RCMP Cpl Dave Ritchie.

The incident started when an officer at the detachment heard a car alarm go off at the back of the building around 12:50 a.m. Monday. When he went to investigate he met up with the suspect, Kevin Dufresne, who said he had an appointment.

The officer told Dufresne to go to the front of the detachment. The next thing the member knew the suspect had rammed six police cars, four of them so badly they can’t be driven. He also rammed the rear of the detachment building and the front of the building too.

“He used enough force that both his air bags deployed,” said Ritchie.

“(The RCMP) doesn’t have six new vehicles ready to go just like that so we will be asking neighbouring detachments for assistance for the next couple of weeks.

“The damage to the building is substantial. He destroyed the frame and structure of the building and penetrated it a bit.”

The suspect was arrested without incident and charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle and mischief. He appeared in provincial court today and has been remanded for 30 days with request for psychiatric review.

Ritchie said officers are alert to this type of attack and detachments use high tech surveillance to thwart this type of incident.

“We are always vigilant… but you can’t circumvent everything unless you become a fortress and we are not about to make a fortress of our detachment.”