A Nanaimo Mountie was assaulted while helping Comox Valley RCMP nail an alleged carjacker Tuesday.
The incident began in Union Bay about 4:30 p.m. when police got a report of two men fighting roadside of the old Island Highway.
A 72-year-old man had stopped to help a younger man parked on the side of the highway with his vehicle’s hazard lights on.
The older man was then attacked, threatened and had his car stolen by the man he stopped to help.
Nanaimo RCMP spotted the stolen car on the side of the road later that day and soon after found a man they believed was the suspect hitchhiking nearby.
The suspect fought with a member when he took him into custody. Nanaimo RCMP had no word about injuries to the officer.
Kenneth Karl Slezak, 46, of Union Bay was held in custody and appeared in Nanaimo provincial court Wednesday to face a recommended charge of obstructing a police officer. Slezak appeared in Courtenay provincial court Thursday to face recommended charges of robbery, theft of a motor vehicle and uttering threats.
Const. Nicole Hall, Comox Valley RCMP spokeswoman said the elderly victim was distraught from the incident, but unhurt.