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Squamish man facing slew of theft charges

Suspect Joshua Kale Lundstrom was well known to police

A Squamish man is up on a slew of charges related to a crime spree in Whistler overnight on Sept. 15-16, including attempting to flee police before he was caught and detained by a police dog.

The reports started to come in on Sept. 16 at 6:42 a.m. when police received a call regarding a suspicious individual riding away from the village on a new red bike. The police attended and discovered that someone had thrown a rock through a store window and had taken a bike.

About half an hour later the police received a call regarding a single vehicle collision on Highway 99 involving a black Dodge pickup truck. Witnesses say the driver of the truck took a bike out of the back and told others that he had already called a tow truck. He then stuck out his thumb and managed to get a ride back to Squamish, where he was dropped off near a restaurant.

The Squamish RCMP tracked the man and the bike and attempted to arrest him. He ran and was caught by a police dog, sustaining injuries that were treated at the Squamish General Hospital. Meanwhile the police confirmed that the bike in his possession was stolen from the Whistler shop based on the serial number.

As well, it was discovered that the truck - which sustained extensive damage - was stolen from an underground parkade in Whistler. The man was also suspected of breaking into other vehicles in the parkade, and was in possession of an iPod Touch that was taken from one vehicle.

Joshua Lundstrom, 32, is reportedly known to police. He has been charged with breaking and entering, two counts of theft (one over $5,000), two accounts of possession of stolen property, one charge of mischief under $5,000 and one charge of resisting arrest.

The RCMP are also investigating his possible involvement in a break and enter reported on Northlands Boulevard later in the week when the owners discovered their 32-inch LG flat screen television missing and found an iPod Shuffle that didn't belong to them in the unit.

 

Sex offender considered a low risk

Posters identifying a Whistler resident as a convicted sex offender and warning parents to be vigilant have been taken down, and the Whistler RCMP and Corrections Canada say the person identified, on parole, is considered low risk and complying with all of his conditions.

The RCMP don't know who put up the posters overnight on Sept. 13, but they were brought to the attention of the police by RMOW staff the next morning. Most of the posters were put up at Whistler businesses and private property without permission from the owners and have been removed.

Because the male is considered low risk he cannot be identified.

RCMP say the man has lived in Whistler for the last 10 months and that officers were made aware of his arrival. Since then he's made every meeting with his parole officer and has not been found in violation of any of his conditions, which include bans on possessing weapons, avoiding certain places and people, and following a mandated treatment plan.

"He's trying to integrate himself back into society and following a treatment plan," said Staff Sergeant Steve LeClair of the Whistler RCMP. "The public is always concerned (when convicted criminals come to town), but for the system to work you have to give people the opportunity to show they're capable of rehabilitating."

 

Man who attempted to run over RCMP officer identified

A 45-year-old man from D'arcy, identified as Louis Marcel Robert, is facing several charges following an incident in Pemberton on Sept. 13.

The charges include impaired driving, refusing to provide a breath sample, dangerous driving, causing a police pursuit, assault with a weapon and uttering threats.

Robert was stopped by RCMP on Portage Road as part of a routine police stop when he became the subject of an impaired driving investigation. He started up his car and almost drove over an RCMP officer while making his escape.

He was pursued to the highway, where he was passing cars over the double yellow line. The police broke off pursuit for public safety reasons, and contacted the RCMP in Whistler to provide assistance.

The male was spotted later driving behind a gravel truck with two trailers, which was driving under the speed limit. The police resumed their pursuit with the male avoiding two RCMP spike belts before he was hit by the gravel truck while attempting to pass on the right. The gravel truck, aware of the police pursuit, was pulling over to the side.

 

Public assistance sought in assault case

The RCMP is looking for the public's assistance in identifying a suspect in a village assault, dating back to Aug. 28 at 2:22 a.m. The incident took place in Village Square, when a man punched another in the face without any provocation. The victim hit the back of his head on the ground, and was unconscious when the police arrived.

The suspect is described as five-foot-eleven with dark blonde hair and an Australian accent. He was wearing a light blue t-shirt and jeans.

If you saw anything, contact the RCMP at 604-932-3044 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).