Community Safety Alert: Man Arrested After Stolen Pickup and Police Pursuit Near Red Bay, NL
Summary of Incident
On the evening of Monday, March 9, officers from Mary’s Harbour RCMP arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with a reported stolen vehicle and an attempted flight from police in southeastern Newfoundland and Labrador. The incident began after police received a complaint that a pickup truck had been taken from a home in Port Hope Simpson.
A short time after the call, officers located the suspect vehicle travelling in the direction of St. Lewis. When police attempted a traffic stop, the driver did not pull over, prompting continued monitoring of the vehicle’s movements and support from additional RCMP officers. The truck eventually came to a stop near Red Bay, where the driver was safely arrested. Charges have been laid and the investigation remains active.
Official RCMP Details
According to information released by the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:
- On March 9 at approximately 7:45 p.m., Mary’s Harbour RCMP received a report of a pickup truck stolen from a residence in Port Hope Simpson.
- An officer soon located a pickup matching the description, travelling toward St. Lewis, and attempted a traffic stop.
- The driver did not stop for police, and officers continued to track the vehicle’s movements while maintaining public safety.
- Forteau RCMP was engaged to support the incident as the vehicle continued along the route.
- Approximately one hour after the initial report, the pickup stopped near Red Bay, where the driver was arrested without incident.
Accused and Charges
The individual arrested in this matter is identified by police as:
- Name: Simon Garceau
- Age: 38
- Residence: Fermont, Quebec
He was transported to Mary’s Harbour and formally charged with the following offences:
- Possession of property obtained by crime (related to the reported stolen vehicle)
- Flight from police (failing to stop when directed by an officer)
The accused is expected to appear in provincial court on March 11 in relation to these charges. Police state that the investigation into this incident is ongoing.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, incidents involving stolen vehicles and attempts to evade police on rural highways present serious safety concerns for both small communities and travellers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Even when an arrest is made without physical confrontation, any refusal to stop for officers can increase the risk of collisions, damage to property, and harm to other road users on narrow or remote routes.
For residents across the region, including communities such as Port Hope Simpson, St. Lewis, Red Bay, and surrounding areas, it is important to take basic precautions: keep vehicles locked, remove keys from the ignition when unattended, and promptly report any suspicious activity around homes, driveways, or parked vehicles to the RCMP. If you see an erratic or suspicious vehicle on the road, do not attempt to intervene yourself—note details such as location, direction of travel, and vehicle description, and contact police as soon as it is safe to do so. Community vigilance and rapid reporting help law enforcement respond quickly and reduce the potential for dangerous situations on local roads.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the newfoundland-and-labrador community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.