Suspect is a south Asian man with a heavy build, shaved head and a tattoo on his arm

Mounties tried to pull a man over for distracted driving, he took off and hit officer

BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – The hunt is on for a suspect after a bizarre hit and run in Burnaby this morning, that left a Mountie with a broken arm.

RCMP say the incident took place shortly before 10 a.m. at a gas station on the corner of Willingdon Avenue and Parker Street. The officer tried to pull over a suspected distracted driver, but the driver took off and hit the officer in the process.

“He did not stop.” Top #Mountie in #Burnaby says hit and run driver who ran down an officer at a gas station is facing criminal charges when he could have just been fined for distracted driving. pic.twitter.com/G3dFzvVmeD — Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) July 4, 2018

The Mountie was taken to the hospital, where she remains.

Police say they’re now looking for who was behind the wheel–a south Asian man with a heavy build and a shaved head. Investigators say the man was wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants at the time of the hit and run.

He also has a tattoo on his left arm. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a grey Dodge Nitro SUV.

Superintendent Chuck McDonald of Burnaby RCMP says he’s hopeful the driver in question will turn himself in.

“I do not know the motive for the driver to [take off],” he says. “Again, I would ask the driver to do the right thing and contact the police and they would get an opportunity to explain what happened.”

He adds he’s confident it’s only a matter of time before the man is identified and brought in.

As for charges, some of the ones the RCMP are looking at recommending are criminal negligence, assault with a weapon and causing a pursuit, on top of any potential distracted driving charges.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999.