RCMP Charge Moncton Man After High-Speed Flight Near Hampton

Community Safety Alert for Southern New Brunswick

On the afternoon of April 23, 2026, the New Brunswick RCMP arrested a 32-year-old man from Moncton after a stolen truck fled from police and was driven dangerously in the areas of Hampton, Sussex, and Salisbury, New Brunswick. The incident began with reports of a truck being driven erratically on a major highway and escalated into a serious public safety concern.

Police used specialized equipment, including a tire-deflation device and air support, to track the vehicle after officers decided not to pursue it directly due to the risks to other road users. The truck was later found off the roadway and abandoned, and the driver was arrested nearby. RCMP have confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen earlier the same day.

Official Incident Details

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on April 23, 2026, members of the Hampton RCMP responded to multiple reports of a truck being driven in an unsafe and erratic manner on Route 1 in the Nauwigewauk area.

Key steps in the incident as reported by RCMP:

• Hampton RCMP officers quickly located the suspect truck on Route 1 near Nauwigewauk.
• Due to the immediate risk to public safety, officers deployed a tire-deflation (spike belt) device, which successfully damaged the truck’s tires.
• Despite the damage, the truck continued to flee at a high speed. In order to protect other drivers and bystanders, police did not initiate a direct pursuit.
• With the assistance of the Caledonia Region RCMP, RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS), and RCMP Air Services, officers monitored and tracked the vehicle.
• The truck was later located on Route 2 near Salisbury, where it had left the roadway and been abandoned.
• The driver and sole occupant, a 32-year-old Moncton man, was found nearby by Police Dog Services and arrested without further incident.
• RCMP determined that the truck had been reported stolen from a residence in Bloomfield earlier that same day.
• Officers also confirmed that the accused was subject to an active Canada-wide warrant related to a separate matter.

Charges Laid and Court Appearance

On April 24, 2026, the accused, identified as Raymond Leblanc, appeared in Saint John Provincial Court. He is facing the following charges in connection with this incident:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Flight from police
• Theft of a motor vehicle

Leblanc was remanded into custody and is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date. The RCMP investigation remains active and ongoing.

CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, this incident highlights how quickly dangerous driving and vehicle theft can put entire communities in New Brunswick at risk, especially along busy corridors like Route 1 and Route 2. Situations involving fleeing vehicles force officers to balance enforcement with the safety of other motorists, which is why controlled tactics such as tire-deflation devices and air support are used instead of high-speed chases when possible.

Residents who observe erratic or high-risk driving should contact police immediately and provide details such as location, direction of travel, and vehicle description—while keeping a safe distance and avoiding any attempt to intervene themselves. National data show that vehicle-related offences and dangerous driving behaviours are a concern across many communities, from major cities to smaller areas such as those profiled in our local crime and safety statistics overview. Staying informed, reporting suspicious activity promptly, and using secure parking or theft-deterrent measures for vehicles all contribute to safer neighbourhoods.

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 new-brunswick 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.