On May 8th, 2014 at approx. 9:00 pm an officer with the Hanover Police Service responded to a report of a theft of liquor from the LCBO located at 893 – 10th Street in Hanover.
At approx. 9:50 pm while investigating the theft, the Hanover Police received a second theft in progress from the Walmart located at 1100 – 10th Street in Hanover. This report involved a male suspect who was caught by employees attempting to steal a television from the store. The HPS officer responded and located the male suspect just outside the front doors of the Walmart in possession of stolen property and attempted to arrest him. During the arrest, the male suspect escaped police custody and after a brief foot chase he was again caught by the officer. The ensuing struggle resulted in serious injuries to the HPS officer and minor injuries to the suspect.
Many citizens came to the aid of the injured HPS officer, rendered first aid and helped restrain the suspect until additional officers from the Hanover Police Service and the West Grey Police Service arrived to take the suspect into custody. The injured Hanover police officer has been identified as a 36 year police veteran.
He was transported to the Hanover & District Hospital by ambulance and then later transferred to Victoria Hospital in London for surgery on his severely fractured leg. The suspect, who was treated for minor injuries and later released from the Hanover & District Hospital has been identified as Christopher WEBER age 36 who has ties to the Towns of Fergus, Arthur and Mount Forest, Ontario but is formerly of Thunder Bay.
The investigation determined the suspect was responsible for both reported thefts and is currently before the courts on many charges with numerous bail releases and a term of probation.
The Hanover Police Service has charged Weber with the following offences in relation to this investigation;
Theft Under $5,000.00 – 2 Counts
Possession Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.00 – 2 Counts
Fail to Comply with Probation Order – 2 Counts
Fail to Comply with Recognizance
Escape Lawful Custody
Utter Threats to Cause Death – 2 Counts
Assault Peace Officer with Intent to Resist Arrest
Resist Arrest
Assault Peace Officer Causing Bodily Harm
Weber is scheduled to make a court appearance today in Walkerton bail court to answer to the charges.
The Hanover Police Service would like to thank the citizens who put themselves in harm’s way to aid in the arrest of the suspect and also to those who rendered assistance to the downed officer while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance.