Man arrested after car chase in a stolen car only stops by crashing into police

A 31-year-old man was arrested yesterday after he drove straight through a police checkpoint in Gran Canaria, which led to a car chase on the GC-1 motorway by Telde, and with him only being stopped when he crashed the stolen car he was driving into two police patrol cars.

The incident took place at around 2:15pm yesterday afternoon (Monday), when an off-duty Guardia Civil officer, who was driving on the GC-1, observed how a car passed him at high speed driving dangerously, so he alerted the Central Operative Services (COS) in Las Palmas.

After carrying out checks on the number plates of the car, the COS confirmed that the vehicle was listed on their database as being stolen. Due to this they informed traffic police and the National Police in the area, as the car was heading towards a junction where they had an existing checkpoint.

As the car approached, officers waved to pull over the vehicle but the driver didn’t stop and sped off at high speed without acknowledging them in any way, so the patrol cars gave chase. In the pursuit, the police made it obvious to the driver that they wanted him to stop, but he ignored the sirens and lights and carried on.

Finally, he came to a stop when he rammed two police vehicles at the junction by the Las Terrazas Shopping Centre by Telde, slightly injuring two of Guardia Civil officers, and causing damage to both vehicles.

As soon as he came to a standstill, he was arrested for speeding, dangerous driving, and being in a stolen vehicle, among other charges, but after being formally identified they found that the 31-year-old detainee, who already has a criminal record, is being investigated for allegedly running over and killing an 8-year-old boy at the end of September 2021 in Las Palmas.

He is currently in police custody as the investigation continues.