Vehicle theft suspect hides up tree, climbs down into 'waiting arms of police'

Winnipeg police had their hands full — literally — Thursday night, when a suspect in a vehicle theft climbed down "into the waiting arms" of officers after hiding up a tree.

Police estimated the man climbed to a height of about 100 feet, or about 30 metres, before coming back down, said Winnipeg police public information officer Const. Rob Carver.

"I have never heard of anyone being 30 metres up a tree where we've had to get them down after a chase," he said.

"You have to think that once you're up there you can pretty well confirm in your own mind that there's nowhere else you're going to go."

The chase began after patrol officers noticed a damaged vehicle in the area of Watt Street and Chalmers Avenue that turned out to be stolen.

The vehicle drove down a back lane and smashed into a snowbank and three people ran from the scene, police said.

Officers, the canine unit and Air-1 police helicopter tracked the suspected driver to Neil Avenue just east of Watt.

The helicopter, helped shine a light on the neighbourhood from above and police found a 24-year-old suspect way up the tree.

"He climbed down on his own into the waiting arms of police," Winnipeg police duty officer Rod Hutter said Friday.

Police arrested the man.