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Turn on when I'm 64 when you read this for effect.
A 64-year-old man has been charged with robbery, causing a police pursuit, dangerous driving and two counts of attempted murder after allegedly leading Coquitlam RCMP on a high-speed chase across the Port Mann bridge Tuesday afternoon during rush-hour. Police say the suspect held up a clerk at Toys 'R Us at 1110 Lougheed Hwy. in Coquitlam at around 3:15 p.m. and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. As he was leaving the store in a van, a witness called 911 on his cell phone to say he was following the suspect, said Const. Dave Babineau of Coquitlam RCMP. But when two police officers tried to stop the eastbound van on Highway 1, the driver kept going and led Mounties on a chase into Surrey. The pursuit ended when police rammed the van near the Sandman Hotel at the intersection of 152nd Street and Lincoln Avenue. Babineau said the suspect shot twice at the cops, who returned the gunfire and wounded the man. Police are not disclosing how many shots were fired or where the suspect was injured. Investigators said no pedestrians or commuters were in any danger during the shoot-out. The two Mounties were not hurt but have since received counselling, he said. The suspect was arrested and is now in hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A handgun was recovered at the scene. Charged is Allen Van Newkirk of Surrey. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to make an appearance in Port Coquitlam provincial court Dec. 22.
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