BC NEWS, FORT ST. JOHN

Sunday, May 5, 2024

A well-known man to the Fort St. John RCMP will not get his Mercedes back following several incidents involving dangerous driving late last year…

The reported incidents began on September 11, 2023, when an officer observed Jessie Fougere, a prolific offender, and prohibited from driving, was using his black Mercedes E63. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Fougere but he instead fled from the officer in a dangerous manner in the downtown core, nearly causing a crash with a second RCMP vehicle.

Over a month later, on October 20, 2023, the same officer located the Mercedes on the eastside of Fort St. John after the driver again fled from police. This time the officer seized the car and requested Civil Forfeiture of the vehicle due to it being used to flee from RCMP in a Dangerous Manner on too many occasions.

On April 23, 2024, the Civil Forfeiture Office confirmed to police that the vehicle would not be returned to Fougere and has been forfeited to be sold at an auction.

“People have the lawful right to own and drive vehicles on the roadway but when they use them in unlawful and dangerous ways, taking the vehicle away can be a lawful option,” said Constable Chad Neustaeter, Media Relations Officer for the Fort St. John RCMP. “In this case, this was diligent work by the frontline police officer to make the roads of Fort St. John safer for everyone.“

Police also mentioned that Fougere was caught two times prior to the September 11th incident.

Fougere is facing criminal charges of Flight from Peace Officer and Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle, which are still before the courts, with the next court date scheduled for October 3, 2024.