SHELBURNE COUNTY, N.S. — Shelburne RCMP have charged Joseph Hayden, 34, of Jordan Falls following a dramatic series of events that began with the theft of an ATV and escalated to a vehicle chase involving a stolen truck and a collision with a police vehicle.
Police responded at around 10 a.m. Thursday to a report that an ATV, trailer, and firewood were stolen from a yard in Jordan Falls. Authorities say Hayden took the ATV and was later joined by a passenger, 29-year-old Cassidy Nickerson of Shelburne County, before heading towards Jordan Branch, N.S.
Officers located the ATV stuck off a trail on Jordan Branch Road. While the driver fled on foot, the passenger Nickerson was safely arrested at the scene.
During Nickerson’s arrest, police say they overheard the driver steal an unoccupied white Dodge Ram 2500 truck from a nearby driveway on Hidden Hollow Lane.
By 10:30 a.m., RCMP spotted the stolen truck in a parking lot on King Street in Shelburne. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver rammed a police car twice and struck another parked vehicle before fleeing. For public safety, the police chose not to pursue.
Later, reports placed the truck and driver near Jordan Ferry and Jordan Branch Road. RCMP Air Services and the Police Dog Services were called in to assist with the search.
Around 8:15 p.m., Hayden was arrested on foot during the manhunt.
He now faces 19 charges, including assault with a weapon (2 counts), dangerous operation of a vehicle (2 counts), flight from police (2 counts), motor vehicle theft (2 counts), possession of stolen property (2 counts), obstruction, failure to stop after an accident (2 counts), mischief, and failure to comply with an undertaking (3 counts).
Hayden appeared in court on Friday and remains in custody pending further hearings.
Nickerson faces five charges including possession of stolen property, flight from a peace officer, and failure to comply with an undertaking. She was released and is scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday.
Both Hayden and Nickerson received tickets for violating provincial restrictions related to travel and activities in wooded areas.
The RCMP confirmed that no officers were injured in the incident.
