NANAIMO — A well-known offender entered guilty pleas for a series of crimes, including a high-risk incident in the rural Whiskey Creek area.
Craig James Hannon, 30, pleaded guilty to four criminal code charges involving offences dating back to last year, culminating in incidents in February where police tracked the offender to Whiskey Creek Forest Service Rd.
Crown counsel’s Jordan Hauschildt outlined the facts of Hannon’s offending on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Nanaimo Law Courts, which he said was the result of police following up on a stolen truck complaint from several days earlier in Saanich.
Oceanside RCMP spotted the suspected stolen truck, a Ford F350 Super Duty, on Feb. 12 at 11:50 a.m. in Parksville, however Hannon did not stop for police.
Patrols continued, with police using an unmarked van to eventually locate the truck in rural Whiskey Creek later the same day.
Hannon was inside.
However, the Crown’s Hauschildt said as the officers approached Hannon from behind, he suddenly reversed and hit the police vehicle.
“They (two police officers) initiated the vehicle’s emergency equipment. The vehicle that Mr. Hannon was driving reversed into the police vehicle approximately five to six more times before fleeing the area with a damaged front tire.”
Missing a tire, Hannon then drove the heavily damaged truck about one kilometre to a residential area in the community.
The offender fled the vehicle, the Crown’s Hauschildt said, as police set up a road check on the dead-end street.
Hannon got inside another vehicle and managed to get away, court heard.
“Ultimately, the driver of that vehicle called police and told them Mr. Hannon had actually forced him to drive through the roadblock and away from the area.”
Hannon was arrested a week later, only to be released by a judge on bail in mid-March.
He then allegedly missed future court appearances in Nanaimo, only for Oceanside RCMP to report in mid-May Hannon was re-apprehended.
Hannon pleaded guilty to the possession of stolen property over $5,000, dangerous driving, and assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.
Additionally, Hannon took responsibility for a May 10, 2025, break and enter at Five Star Auto Sales on Parksville’s Smithers Rd.
The dealership’s owner reported over $15,000 in losses due to property and vehicle damages, including damage to vehicle door locks.
Oceanside RCMP took blood swabs from a damaged vehicle doorhandle.
“The DNA report was obtained, and ultimately the DNA was found to be a match to Mr. Hannon,” the Crown’s Hauschildt informed court.
Pre-sentence and Gladue reports were ordered for Hannon, which will be taken into consideration during his sentencing hearing, which is expected to take place in a few months.
He remains in jail.
Hannon has an extensive criminal history on Vancouver Island for stealing vehicles and various property crimes.
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