Police have charged a Qualicum Beach man with two counts of assault with a weapon and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Oceanside RCMP responded to a report of a driver of a black Honda Civic pointing a firearm at a person while stopped at an intersection in Parksville around 5 p.m. on Aug. 24. Shortly after the first incident, a man was confronted on the orange bridge and sprayed with bear spray by the driver associated to the black Honda, according to police.
RCMP and BC Highway Patrol began investigating and searched the area for the vehicle and its occupant.
Around 7:20 p.m. a motorcycle officer with BC Highway Patrol was conducting speed enforcement on Highway 19 near the Nanoose Bay rest stop when he observed a small black car traveling south at well over the posted speed limit. The car’s speed was confirmed at 128 km/h in the 90 km/hr zone, police said. The car made no attempt to slow down as it went past the officer, who then jumped on his motorcycle and followed the car.
As the officer neared Bayview Drive, he slowed down because he could not see the vehicle. He turned off the emergency equipment and continued to drive south. Once the officer approached Capilano Road, he came across a collision that had occurred moments before that involved the same black car observed earlier, according to police.
The officer called for additional assistance, including Fire Rescue and BC Ambulance because the vehicle was badly damaged. The officer was able to determine the identity of the driver and linked the vehicle’s licence plates to the two earlier reports of assault with a weapon, police said.
The driver was arrested and police found evidence of the two earlier weapons assaults and a partially consumed bottle of liquor when they searched the vehicle. The driver was taken to hospital, where it was determined his injuries were minor in nature. He provided a mandatory breath sample, which resulted in a “fail” reading, according to police.
Clayton Solberg, 25, was charged with two counts of assault with a weapon and two counts of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said. In addition, he received a 90-day driving prohibition due to failing the roadside breath test and was issued a speeding ticket. Solberg appeared before a judge and was released on bail with a number of conditions pending further court appearances.
“These incidents demonstrate how BC Highway Patrol works with local detachments and the public to make our highways and communities safer together,” said Cpl. Michelle LeBrun, spokesperson for BCHP in Parksville. “We are happy to have been of assistance to help Oceanside RCMP further its investigation into the assault allegations, while also holding the impaired driver accountable.”
