Police buy one-way ferry ticket for 'prolific offender' banned from Vancouver Island

A 38-year-old “prolific offender” was “swiftly and unceremoniously removed from Vancouver Island,” recently, according to Nanaimo RCMP.

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In a release issued this week, police said the process began around noon on Tuesday, May 2, when the man, who police said has no fixed address, was arrested for stealing a police bait bike.

Upon arresting him, officers say they discovered the man was the subject of 11 arrest warrants throughout Alberta and was before the courts in that province as well, for “several violent offences.”

Police did not disclose his name, but said the man was brought to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, before a bail hearing took place later that same day.

The man was ultimately charged with one count of Possession of Stolen Property and issued a court date of June 4 in Nanaimo Provincial court. He was then released on a Recognizance of Bail, and, as part of his conditions, was subsequently banned from being on Vancouver Island, unless for court purposes.

At that point, “officers did not waste any time and drove the accused to the Departure Bay Ferry terminal,” police said.

There, they purchased a walk-on ferry ticket for the man “out of their own pocket” and after he ensuring he was onboard the next ferry to Metro Vancouver, the officers “collectively waved goodbye” to him.

“This should be a good reminder to anyone intent on travelling to our fair city and engaging in criminal activity,” said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien. “You’re not welcome here, you should make other travel arrangements and remove Nanaimo as a destination point.”