A couple who eluded authorities after stealing petrol on Sunday afternoon were arrested hours later while hiding with their three children in tall grass in Sainte-Félicité, Caspésy.
Gasoline was stolen from a gas station in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts in Gaspésie around 1:15 p.m. The suspect vehicle was quickly located by agents of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
“They tried to intercept him, but the suspects ran away. A chase then began on route 132,” says SQ’s spokeswoman Beatrice Torzainville.
The offending vehicle allegedly committed several violations of the Highway Safety Code before disappearing nearly 70km into Sainte-Félicité.
A ground search allowed the provincial police force to find the fugitives’ vehicle at around 2:30 p.m. behind the small municipality’s church, but no one was inside.
It was only after an hour that the patrol officers were able to apprehend the suspects, a man and a woman. The latter with their three children were hiding in the tall grass on the banks of the river.
“They were taken back to the police station to be questioned by officers. All three of their children have been taken care of,” says Mrs. Torzainville.
The couple could be charged with theft, absconding and dangerous driving. But other charges may be added.
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