Drug dealer with unenviable list of dangerous driving infractions sentenced to time served on three files
Antonio Nolasco Padia has driving convictions in 10 out of 11 years from 2015 to 2025
April 13, 2026
For the first time in a very long time, Antonio Nolasco Padia has no unresolved criminal charges before Chilliwack courts after he was sentenced on three different files recently.
Nolasco Padia has a lengthy and serious criminal record with an unenviable list of convictions for driving while prohibited, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and flight from police.
Since he had his driver’s licence suspended indefinitely a decade ago, he has driving convictions in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and yes, 2025.
Want to support independent journalism?
Consider a one-time donation or subscribe for less than $1 a week so I can continue this work.
Probably the only reason he doesn’t have one in 2026 yet is because he’s spent most of it behind bars.
When confronted by police, Nolasco Padia does not tend to respond lawfully.
His latest convictions on three different files were on Oct. 21, 2025, for which he was finally sentenced on March27, 2026.
- File 1: He was charged with multiple breaches of probation in September and November 2023 for violating conditions after a 2022 dangerous operation and driving while disqualified conviction. He was convicted of two breaches and sentenced to time served.
- File 2: On March 30, 2024, he faced five charges after an incident fleeing from police. He was convicted of wilfully resisting arrest and driving while prohibited and was sentenced to time served and a five-year driving prohibition.
- File 3: On March 4, 2025 he again fled from police and was charged and convicted of flight from police and dangerous operation of a vehicle. For the latter charge he was sentenced to three years probation and for the flight, 108 days jail, three years probation, and yet another redundant five-year driving prohibition.
All of his dangerous driving is in addition to a big drug/gun/cash bust in 2017 that prompted a police show-and-tell at the Chilliwack RCMP detachment. In that case, Nolasco Padia was a minor player in a large illegal drug operation run by gangster Lucas Thiessen.
Six days after the police show-and-tell, which also included sharing Nolasco Padia’s mugshot because he was on the lam, he was arrested. Then 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and was sentenced to time served and was released.
Thiessen was at Kent Institution having been sentenced to nearly nine years on Oct. 25, 2018, since which he was convicted in a conspiracy with a corrections officer to import drugs and phones and weapons into Kent.
A few of Nolasco Padia's memorable driving escapades
• 2019 • Banff
On Sept. 18, 2019, Nolasco-Padia and convicted local drug dealer Dina Anthony, 55, were driving on Highway 1 within Banff National Park when Alberta RCMP attempted to pull them over. They fled.
With the help of a Calgary Police Service helicopter, RCMP officers from Banff, Canmore and Kannanaskis attempted to stop the pair west of Dead Man’s Flats using a spike belt. Nolasco-Padia hit the belt, drove the disabled vehicle into oncoming traffic. Then he attempted to steal another vehicle by force, according to an RCMP release.
“Moments later, the suspect was apprehended by RCMP Police Dog Services. The female passenger in the suspect vehicle was arrested without further incident.”
Police seized approximately 50 fentanyl tablets, 30 grams of methamphetamine, five grams of cocaine along with a loaded, prohibited handgun.
• 2021 • Garrison Crossing, Chilliwack
At approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 3, 2021, a number of residents of the Garrison Crossing neighbourhood said they heard fast-moving vehicles, and others saw lots of police in pursuit.
“I witnessed the car fly by the house followed by between 10 to 15, primarily police SUVs in tow, over the next three to five minutes,” a witness told me at the time. “He spun out/crashed at Sappers and Watson. Heard the police yell ‘put your hands up’ and muffled resistance.”
Nolasco Padia was charged with dangerous operation of a conveyance, flight from police, wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer, assaulting peace officer, and two counts of driving while prohibited.
He was convicted of dangerous operation of a conveyance and flight from police and was given a nine-month conditinoal sentence, one year probation, and a three-year driving ban, kind of moot because he already isn't allowed to drive as far as ICBC is concerned.
• 2022 • Chilliwack
I don't have the details but on June 11, 2022 he did it again, and was convicted of dangerous operation of a conveyance, driving while disqualified. He was sentenced to 12 months probation with a three-year criminal driving prohibition.
He then allegedly breach the conditions of his release on Sept. 19, Nov. 2, and Nov. 8. 2023. These were the first of the three files for which he had a bail hearing Monday.
• 2024 • Village West, Chilliwack
Bail hearings are subject to publication bans under section 517 of the criminal code for the sake of preventing potential jurors from being exposed to evidence that may not later be admissible at trial.
So while the details can’t be shared, on March 30, 2024, while subject to multiple outstanding warrants, the now 28-year-old allegedly engaged in a protracted and violent attempt to flee police arrest in a vehicle.
He is charged with two counts of assaulting peace officers, wilfully resisting or obstructing arrest, driving while disqualified, and driving while prohibited.
• 2025 • Tzeachten, Vedder & Garrison Crossing, Chilliwack
The latest alleged dangerous driving incident that landed him behind bars this time was just two weeks ago, March 4, 2025.
Again, details that came out in the bail hearing cannot be reported at this time, but suffice it to say the incident involved dangerous driving, reckless behaviour, and had the potential to cause harm to bystanders or officers.
For that incident he is charged with flight from police, dangerous operation, and driving while disqualified.
-30-
Paul J. Henderson
pauljhenderson@gmail.com
facebook.com/PaulJHendersonJournalist
instagram.com/wordsarehard_pjh
x.com/PeeJayAitch
wordsarehard-pjh.bsky.social