A convicted murderer, wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, hid out in a cabin in the Qualicum Beach area before local media attention chased him out of the area, say police.
Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP said Jack Dennis Woods arrived at an undisclosed location in November and rented a cabin to lay low.
Woods was convicted of second degree murder and spent 13 years in prison for the crime before being paroled in September of last year and sent to a halfway house.
“He committed murder, he did his time and then he decided the halfway house wasn’t for him and he hit the road.”
“He has indicated he is not prepared to go back to jail, so he should be considered dangerous.”
O’Brien said police were aware Woods was on Vancouver Island and there was some evidence he might be in the Parksville area. The day after that information — along with a photograph — was printed in The News and other media, Woods took to his heels and fled.
“Because of the media attention we provided ... he left so fast he left his food in the microwave,” O’Brien said. “He left really quick. His rent was paid up until the end of February.”
Acting on a tip, O’Brien said police staked out the cabin where Woods was reportedly staying and, once they were sure he was no longer there, they contacted the owner of the property.”
“Based on that we did surveillance and once we were satisfied he was not in that place, we contacted the owners and showed them a picture,” O’Brien said. “They said oh my goodness that’s Mr. Woods.”
Police say they have no indication which direction Woods took when he fled, but O’Brien speculated he may be in Alberta.
Woods is believed to be driving a 2000 burgundy Dodge Caravan with B.C. plate number 658 DLC.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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