Labrador man who sparked drunken brawl arrested

A 22-year-old man who escaped from police custody in Natuashish, Labrador, last Thursday was arrested Monday in another community.

The RCMP found Nigel Rich in Hopedale. He is facing numerous charges including dangerous driving; impaired driving; failing to stop for police; escaping lawful custody; resisting arrest and possession of stolen property.

Police say a fight broke out after RCMP officers in Natuashish tried to pull Rich over Thursday evening, after receiving a complaint about a drunk driver.

The truck was carrying as many as six passengers at the time, Sgt. Wayne Newell said.

Newell said that after Rich was put in a RCMP cruiser, a police officer was hit on the back of the head.A crowd had formed around the car, and someone opened its back door and let Rich out.

Rich has also been charged with breach of probation and mischief stemming from an incidenton Jan. 26.

He was charged with theft of a snowmobile, breach of probation, mischief to the stolen snowmobile, and resisting arrest from another incident reported on Friday.

On Monday, he was also charged with break and entering and theft. Police saidthe snowmobilethat Rich drove about 100 kilometres south from Natuashish to Hopedale was stolen.

Rich is now in custody awaiting a bail hearing.