RCMP Arrest Wanted Driver After Spike Belt Stop in Conception Harbour
Holyrood RCMP, with support from Ferryland RCMP and RCMP Traffic Services East, arrested 60-year-old David Halleran on Saturday, May 23, 2026, following two separate attempts to flee police during traffic stops. The incident unfolded across multiple communities in the Conception Bay area, ending in Conception Harbour after officers deployed a spike belt to safely bring the vehicle to a halt.
Police say the driver was first observed speeding excessively in Avondale shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Route 60 (Conception Bay Highway) near Station Road. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle allegedly fled at high speed in a dangerous manner. A second traffic stop attempt in the Conception Harbour area resulted in the same vehicle again fleeing. A tire deflation device was then used along Harbour Drive, and the vehicle came to rest on nearby Big Pond Road, where the driver was arrested and later charged.
Official Incident Details
According to the official release, officers on patrol in Avondale initially stopped a speeding vehicle on Route 60 near Station Road. During this stop, the driver suddenly accelerated away at a very high speed, driving in a manner police considered unsafe for the public. In line with safety protocols, pursuing officers did not continue the chase at that moment to avoid increasing the risk to other road users.
RCMP officers began coordinated patrols across surrounding communities and later encountered the same vehicle in the Conception Harbour area. A second attempt was made to stop the vehicle, and once again the driver reportedly sped away at a high rate of speed.
To end the risk safely, officers deployed a tire deflation device (spike belt) along Harbour Drive. The device successfully deflated the vehicle’s tires, and the car came to a stop on Big Pond Road. At that point, the driver was taken into custody without further incident.
Police identified the driver as David Halleran, 60. Investigators determined he was breaching court-ordered conditions tied to a release order and that he was also wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant issued by Bay Roberts RCMP.
After his arrest, Halleran was transported to the Holyrood RCMP detachment and held until a court appearance on Monday, May 25, 2026. During that appearance, he faced the following charges under the Criminal Code of Canada:
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle – two counts
- Flight from police – two counts
- Failure to comply with conditions of a release order – one count
RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador emphasize that refusing to stop when signaled by police is both a serious criminal offence and a major road safety risk. When emergency lights or sirens are activated, drivers are required to pull over safely and follow directions from officers. Fleeing from a lawful traffic stop can result in criminal charges, substantial fines, vehicle seizure, and heightened danger to other motorists and pedestrians.
Residents in and around Conception Harbour can review local crime and safety trends, including traffic-related offences, through our Conception Harbour crime statistics and safety data page. Similarly, those in Holyrood can access regional information via our Holyrood crime statistics and safety overview, which helps put individual incidents like this into broader context.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident underscores how quickly a routine traffic stop can escalate into a high-risk situation when a driver chooses to flee. Dangerous driving and attempts to evade law enforcement threaten not only police officers, but also other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians across Newfoundland and Labrador. When drivers comply promptly with police directions, it significantly reduces the chance of collisions, injuries, or the need for tactics such as spike belts.
We encourage community members to support safer roads by always obeying posted speed limits, remaining calm and cooperative if stopped by police, and reporting reckless driving when it is safe to do so. If you witness a driver operating a vehicle in a way that presents an immediate danger, call local police or 911 with as much detail as you can safely provide, such as location, direction of travel, and a brief description of the vehicle. Collective vigilance and adherence to traffic laws are essential parts of our shared mission to keep Newfoundland and Labrador communities safer.
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.