Two charged following crime sprees across HRM and southwest Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia RCMP and Halifax Regional Police (HRP) have charged a man and a woman with multiple offences following a series of thefts, a robbery, dangerous driving incidents, and the theft of a motor vehicle across the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and southwest Nova Scotia.
The investigation began on July 25 when RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment (HRD) responded to a report of a fuel theft at a gas station in Fall River. Officers learned that a woman driving a Honda Civic fuelled the vehicle and left without paying.
On July 28, HRP received a report that a Honda Civic had been stolen. Investigators learned that a man and woman had borrowed the vehicle on July 20 and failed to return it.
Over the following weeks, police received reports of multiple thefts from businesses in Sackville, Fall River, Upper Tantallon, Bedford, Hubbards and Greenwood. In each case, investigators identified a woman as the suspect. During several of the incidents, the suspect was observed leaving in the stolen Civic.
On August 10, an HRP officer located the stolen Civic in Dartmouth and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to stop and fled northbound on Hwy. 118.
The following day, East Hants District RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at a convenience store in Rawdon Gold Mines. Officers located the stolen Honda Civic with a man and woman sleeping inside. As officers attempted to arrest them, the driver reversed into a police vehicle and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.
On August 14, RCMP HRD responded to a robbery at a business in the 3600 block of Hammonds Plains Rd. in Upper Tantallon. Investigators learned that a man and woman filled a shopping cart with merchandise and left without paying. A nearby RCMP HRD Traffic Services officer immediately responded and observed the pair loading the stolen merchandise into a Honda Civic. When the officer attempted to arrest the woman, she fled in the vehicle, nearly striking a store employee who attempted to intervene.
Through the on-going investigation, officers learned the man and woman were located in Falmouth.
On August 19, the RCMP HRD Community Action Response Team, with assistance from the RCMP HRD Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU), Southwest Nova RCMP SCEU, and RCMP HRD Police Dog Services, safely arrested the pair in the 2100 block of Hwy. 1 in Falmouth. The stolen Honda Civic was also recovered in the Windsor area.
Nicole Adele Spence, 24, of Dartmouth, is charged with:
- Robbery
- Resisting Arrest
- Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance (two counts)
- Flight From a Police Officer (two counts)
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
- Theft (five counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 (four counts)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Leslie Burton Gray, 33, of Dartmouth, is charged with:
- Robbery
- Resisting Arrest
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000
- Theft of a Motor Vehicle
Both Spence and Gray appeared in Halifax Provincial Court on August 20. Spence was released on conditions and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on August 27. Gray remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on August 25.
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TrafficRCMP investigating impaired driving offence following single-vehicle crash
RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is investigating an impaired driving offence following a single-vehicle crash in Goffs.
On August 20, at approximately 11:25 p.m., RCMP officers, EHS, and fire services responded to a report of a vehicle crash in the 2400 block of Old Guysborough Rd. A subscription-based vehicle safety, security and communication service reported that a Cadillac XT4 had experienced an airbag deployment and that the service had been unable to contact the driver.
Upon arrival, officers located the Cadillac in a ditch with front-end damage.
Fire services removed the 52-year-old driver, who was the sole occupant of the XT4, from the vehicle.
Due to the man’s injuries, he was unable to provide breath samples. However, officers observed signs of impairment and are continuing the impaired driving investigation through a blood warrant.
An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators, including dashcam footage or video surveillance showing the Cadillac travelling on Old Guysborough Rd. between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on August 20, is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or use the P3 Tips app.
Impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of serious injury and death on Nova Scotia roads. Motorists are reminded to make safe transportation arrangements before consuming alcohol or drugs, by choosing a designated driver, taking a taxi, or using a rideshare service. Suspected impaired drivers should be reported to 911.
