The man shot and killed by Surrey RCMP had a record of dangerous driving and refusing to stop for police.

Kenneth Keith Baines, 46, of Surrey died Wednesday from a gunshot wound inflicted during a confrontation with police officers in Surrey Tuesday night.

Court records show Baines has at least four convictions for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle between 1997 and 2001.

He was also convicted in 2001 on a charge of flight from a peace officer.

There are also convictions for failing to remain at the scene of an accident, assault, theft, possession of stolen goods and mischief.

Police said Baines was shot after a man was seen driving a brown 1992 Honda Accord which had been reported stolen around 12 noon on July 14. When officers attempted to stop the stolen vehicle and arrest the driver, police said the suspect tried to flee by ramming a police car with his vehicle.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen told reporters the plainclothes officers involved in the shooting were in the area in an unrelated criminal investigation at the time.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) and the Chair for the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (the agency that deals with complaints against the federal police force) are investigating.

Thiessen did not say whether the victim had a weapon, but noted the vehicle he was driving posed a threat.

“A vehicle can potentially be used as a weapon as well,” Thiessen said.

“He was ramming the police cars, clearly that was creating an issue for the officers.”

An eyewitness to the incident said it appeared Baines was trying to run over the officers.

Oneal Mendoza was conducting his regular Tuesday night martial arts class at 126 Street and 80 Avenue around 8 p.m. when he heard a screeching sound from the lane behind his studio, then a banging sound, then some gunshots.

“Get down,” he told his students.

The large garage-style door at the back of his martial arts studio had been opened to the narrow lane that runs between two large industrial buildings, the better to circulate air.

When Mendoza peered into the alley, he saw a confrontation between a man in a car and at least two police officers in another vehicle.

“Stop, I’m a cop,” the officers were yelling.

The man kept advancing in his car toward the police.

“Get out!” Mendoza told his students.

As they all took cover, there were more shots, then silence.

– with files from Kevin Diakiw and CTV News

dferguson@surreyleader.com