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Woman wanted in connection with driving incident on Canada Day arrested in Langley

A woman wanted on a B.C.-wide warrant for missing a court appearance related to an incident on Canada Day when Victoria police say they were nearly run over has been arrested by Langley RCMP.
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Riga Godron was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant stemming from an incident where Victoria police officers were nearly run over by a driver on Canada Day. VIA VICTORIA POLICE

A woman wanted on a B.C.-wide warrant for missing a court appearance related to an incident on Canada Day when Victoria police say they were nearly run over has been arrested by Langley RCMP.

Riga Godron, 44, was wanted on a warrant after failing to appear in court on charges of obstructing a police officer, flight from police and driving without due care and attention in the wake of the July 1 incident, in which police say officers had to leap out of the way of a vehicle that refused to stop.

The incident began with a report that a vehicle was impeding traffic on Dallas Road just after 4 p.m. As officers were making arrangements to have the large truck with a camper in its bed towed, the driver returned and wanted to leave.

Officers attempted to detain the suspect, who got into the vehicle, put it in gear and rapidly reversed, causing the officers to leap out of the way to avoid being struck.

The suspect fled the scene and was spotted by another officer, who activated his emergency lights and attempted to pull the vehicle over, said police.

The driver sped away and was spotted driving erratically on Blanshard Street. Police said they managed to block the vehicle in the 600-block of Pandora Avenue, a short distance from where Canada Day celebrations were underway.

The driver was pulled from the vehicle by officers and arrested.

Godron is a Victoria city council candidate.

A video posted on Godron’s Facebook page on July 1 shows her in Canada Day clothing returning to the RV. The vehicle is parked facing the ocean in a diagonal parking space, with the rear of the vehicle jutting out into the northbound lane, forcing vehicles over the centre line to pass it.

Godron tells the officers they are on video while she asks them if they’ll hold traffic for her while she backs the vehicle out. The officer says: “You see how you are parked?” noting the difficulty it has created for other drivers. “It’s creating a traffic hazard,” he says.

Godron acknowledges the problem and asks for help as she backs out. She hops into the vehicle, prompting the officer to tell her: “Hold on a second — you are not free to go.” Godron tells the officer she is not under arrest and closes the door. Repeated knocking can be heard and the officer saying: “You are not free to go, get out of the car.”

Later, Godron records part of her arrest, an exchange where she asks the nature of the problem and officers demand she exit the vehicle, noting the police dog is there.