Wild Ride and Thefts Lead to 20 Charges for Regina Man

Imagine waking up to news of a chase straight out of a movie – but it's happening right in your city. That's pretty much how Tuesday morning unfolded for many in Regina, as police found themselves embroiled in a rather dramatic pursuit that eventually led to a local man facing a whopping twenty charges. It sounds like something pulled from a crime drama, doesn't it?

The whole ordeal, or at least the most public part of it, kicked off bright and early Tuesday. Around 8:30 a.m., sharp-eyed officers spotted a 2017 Ram 1500 pickup – which, as it turned out, had been reported stolen just the day before – parked rather conspicuously in a business lot over on the 1000 block of Osler Street. When they tried to make a stop, well, let's just say the driver wasn't keen on cooperating. Instead, he simply floored it, igniting a high-stakes pursuit.

Things quickly escalated. The stolen truck, with the suspect behind the wheel, was then involved in not one, but two separate hit-and-run collisions. First, it was near the busy intersection of Albert Street and 12th Avenue, and then, without missing a beat, another incident occurred just a short distance away on the 2200 block of 12th Avenue. Clearly, this driver was desperate to escape, showing little regard for other motorists or property.

The chase finally reached its chaotic conclusion when the pickup truck veered off course, crashing through a fence and smashing its way into a yard on the 2100 block of Cameron Street. At that point, the driver decided to ditch the vehicle and try his luck on foot, vanishing into the neighborhood. But police, hot on his trail, weren't about to give up. They quickly located him attempting to hide nearby. And even then, it wasn't a smooth arrest; he reportedly resisted, making the officers' job just a little bit harder before they finally took him into custody.

Once they had 27-year-old Braydon Michael Bell in custody, the true scope of his alleged activities began to unravel. Further investigation didn't just tie him to Tuesday's dramatic events; it also linked him to a string of other reported thefts. It seems he had been quite busy. Police connected him to the theft of another truck, a 2017 Ford F-150, stolen on April 11 from Green Jade Circle, which thankfully was recovered. And, of course, the Ram 1500 involved in Tuesday's chase had been taken on April 15 from Marigold Drive. Plus, there were multiple reports of items pilfered from other parked vehicles on both April 15 and 16.

The consequence of all this? A rather daunting list of twenty charges. We're talking everything from multiple counts of possessing stolen property – both over and under $5,000 – to dangerous driving, fleeing a peace officer, and resisting arrest. He's also facing charges for failing to stop after those accidents, two counts of vehicle theft, breach of probation, and even driving while prohibited. It's a heavy burden, indeed, reflecting a pattern of concerning behavior.

Mr. Bell made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday morning to face these myriad charges. It serves as a stark reminder of the serious risks involved when individuals engage in such reckless and unlawful activities, not just to themselves, but to the entire community. It’s certainly been a week to remember for Regina’s law enforcement.