Man facing first degree murder charge after hit-and-run in Cole Harbour

By CityNews Halifax Staff

A man is facing a number of charges including first degree murder following a hit and run incident in Cole Harbour.

On Monday at roughly 3:20 p.m., Mounties responded to a hit and run on Shrewsbury Road where officers learned a Good Samaritan was helping a woman who was being held against her will in a Mercedes.

Police say the vehicle was located at a nearby home and was occupied by a man known to the victim.

According to RCMP, while the Good Samaritan intervened, they were knocked to the ground along with the victim and then the suspect intentionally struck the woman with the vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Two off-duty officers who were nearby ran to the scene and provided first aid to both the Good Samaritan and the victim.

The victim, a 30-year-old Dartmouth woman, was transported to hospital by EHS and later succumbed to her injuries while the Good Samaritan suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Shortly after the incident, an emergency alert was issued, alerting the public to be on the look out for Aaron Daniel Crawley and the vehicle.

Then at roughly 6 p.m., officers arrested a 33-year-old Cole Harbour man who was on foot near Hwy. 7 and Lake Major Road in Westphal.

The vehicle he used to hit the victim was found later.

The man is being held in custody and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on Wednesday to face charges including first degree murder, assault with a weapon, and four counts of failure to comply with a release order.