A speeding van stopped by Victoria police Saturday night led investigators to a 17-year-old male who had been missing from the West Shore since early March.

The teen, a passenger in the vehicle, fled the scene on foot just before midnight, assaulting one officer in the process, according to police.

The teen was apprehended at Douglas and Belleville streets.

When police searched him, they found "a sizable stash of crack cocaine and heroin" with an estimated street value of $4,000, Const. Mike Russell said in a statement.

The young man has had numerous run-ins with police, wracking up almost 50 criminal charges in the past four years, including charges for drug-related offences, Russell said.

The teen, whose identity is protected by Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act, faces charges of obstruction, assault with intent to resist arrest and two charges each of breaching probation and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

He was scheduled to appear in youth court today.

emccracken@vicnews.com