Two Nanaimo Mounties managed to get their man, in spite of being bear-sprayed by a suspect who threw an axe at a passing pickup truck. 

Police were called to Aulds Road and Metral Drive in north Nanaimo at about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, after a driver reported a man had thrown an axe into the back of his pickup truck. 

鈥淥ur members responded, they identified who the individual was and he was known to them,鈥� said reserve Const. Gary O鈥橞rien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson. 

When the officers tried to arrest the suspect he fled, but during the chase he paused to pull a can of bear spray out of his backpack and discharged it at the two officers, police allege.

鈥淎lthough their vision was obscured, they continued with the arrest and fought with the individual and took him into custody,鈥� O鈥橞rien said. 

Kym Arkell, 40, of Nanaimo, has been charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, two counts of assault with a weapon, and two counts of breach of probation. 

O鈥橞rien said the accused 鈥渋s expected to remain in custody for some time.鈥�

鈥淲e can鈥檛 say enough about the tenacity displayed by the officers who fought through a situation that is extremely dangerous,鈥� O鈥橞rien said. 鈥淭heir vision was obscured, they continued and they effectively took an individual into custody and got him off the streets.鈥�