A Lower Mainland man is facing several charges after allegedly robbing a 7-11 in Coquitlam and running from police in a taxi cab that eventually crashed into a fence.
James Lopert, who is known to police, is facing two counts of robbery and one count of police pursuit and is currently being held in custody.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday, June 15, when the suspect entered the 7-11 on Guildford Way and robbed the store. Police said he left the scene in a vehicle, but eventually jumped in a taxi cab.
When the cab missed the turn on Kingsway Avenue heading south on Westwood Street, the vehicle crashed into the fence of a townhouse complex.
A witness said the suspect tried to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by police.
Coquitlam RCMP Const. Michelle Luca would not confirm the suspect was the person driving the cab.
"What I can tell you is that there was a police pursuit," she said. "Eventually he was in a cab and the cab crashed into a chain-link fence. There was no injuries."
Lopert had an outstanding warrant and was in violation of his parole, Luca said.
