Duo detained after Saturday pursuit, crash
Officers seize drugs, cash and firearm in Hanwell after chasing stolen vehicle, RCMP reports; Clayton Maynard Ernest Townes, 39, & Jenna Nicole Bunker, 31, arrested, charged
Two capital-region residents are in custody awaiting bail hearings after a high-speed chase in the Hanwell area that led to their arrests and the seizure of narcotics, cash and a handgun, the RCMP reports.
The Oromocto detachment of the RCMP issued a news release Tuesday morning about an incident in Hanwell that occurred over the weekend.
“On Jan. 17, 2026, at approximately 2 a.m., members of the Oromocto and Keswick RCMP detachments were conducting proactive patrols in the Hanwell industrial park following reports of break and enters in the area,” it said.
“While on patrol, members located a vehicle that had previously been reported as stolen and initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled from police at a high rate of speed through New Maryland. Police did not pursue the vehicle.”
However, the release said, the suspect vehicle circled back to the area and police were able to deploy a spike belt to deflate its tires.
“However, the vehicle continued to flee into Fredericton where it intentionally collided with a police vehicle after conducting an illegal U-turn,” it said.
“Police pursued the vehicle which collided with a second police vehicle after it was driving the wrong way through a roundabout. The driver then attempted to flee on foot but was arrested by police.”
The RCMP reported that the passenger in the suspect vehicle was also arrested at the scene.
A search of the vehicle turned up quantities of suspected cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl, the release said, along with a significant quantity of Canadian currency, a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
The pair who was arrested - Clayton Maynard Ernest Townes, 39, of McAdam, and Jenna Nicole Bunker, 31 - appeared in weekend remand court and were remanded pending bail hearings, originally scheduled for Monday in Fredericton provincial court.
However, both defendants sought to postpone those show-cause hearings, and Judge Marc Savoie set them over to Thursday. He also remanded them again until that time.
The RCMP says among the charges Townes is facing are possession of fentanyl, cocaine and crystal meth for the purpose of trafficking; possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public; possession of the firearm without a licence; carrying a concealed weapon; flight from police; failure to stop at the scene of an accident; dangerous driving; possession of stolen property; assault on a police officer; improper storage/transport of a firearm; possession of the firearm with readily accessible ammunition capable of being discharged; and violation of a court-ordered firearms prohibition.
Bunker is also charged with possession of the narcotics for trafficking purposes, possession of stolen property and breach of probation.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, the RCMP said, and it urged anyone with information about the case to call the Oromocto detachment at 506-357-4300.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously can do so through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), downloading the secure P3 Mobile App or visiting Secure Web Tips online at www.crimenb.ca.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.