Two men charged after weapons, body armour found in stolen vehicle: N.B. RCMP

The New Brunswick RCMP allegedly seized these weapons from a stolen vehicle on Dec. 10, 2024. (New Brunswick RCMP)

Two men have been charged after police allegedly seized a loaded weapon and body armour from a stolen vehicle that fled from officers in southwestern New Brunswick.

St. Stephen RCMP tried to stop the vehicle for a traffic violation on Highway 1, near Oak Bay, N.B., around 1:50 a.m. Tuesday.

When police approached the vehicle, they say the driver made a U-turn and started driving into oncoming traffic.

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Police deployed a “tire deflation device” but the vehicle kept travelling at a low speed. It eventually came to a stop on Loop Road in Upper Mills, N.B.

The RCMP arrested two men at the scene.

Before the arrest, investigators determined the vehicle had been stolen. When they searched the vehicle, police say they found and seized a loaded weapon, a prohibited weapon, hard-plate body armour, and other items.

Kody Hiltz, 26, of St. Stephen and Patrick Thomas Harris, 40, of Hartland, N.B., have each been charged with the following:

• careless use of a firearm
• unauthorized possession of a firearm
• possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
• weapons possession contrary to an order and failure to surrender authorization
• failure to comply with a probation order

Hiltz has also been charged with resisting arrest, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and flight from police.

Harris has been charged with assault of a police officer with a weapon.

Hiltz and Harris both appeared in Saint John provincial court on Tuesday. They were remanded into custody and are due back in court at a later date.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.