Crossing provincial borders won’t stop RCMP from making an arrest. That’s the reminder from the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit after a chase that took it through several Lakeland communities and even Saskatchewan.
“Many people believe that crossing provincial lines will force us to cease efforts to apprehend them, but this is certainly not the case,” says Constable Guillaume Wilson. “We are Canada’s police force and provincial borders will not prevent us from stopping criminals and keeping Canadians safe.”
The incident started the morning of October 9th, when officers from Elk Point, Cold Lake, and Bonnyville joined forces to arrest a man wanted on several outstanding warrants for serious offences. They were in Fishing Lake when they thought they saw him in a vehicle that sped off when police tried to pull it over.
Mounties chased the vehicle through Fishing Lake, Frog Lake, Bonnyville County and the Elizabeth Metis Settlement. There, RCMP says the suspect vehicle got away after a someone in it his a police cruiser’s windshield with a metal pipe.
It was believed the vehicle was hiding in an area along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border, which was contained with the help of Saskatchewan RCMP until Alberta RCMP Air Services could fly in. The helicopter eventually found the vehicle in a trail system in the area.
A spike belt was used to deflate one of the vehicle’s tires, but the chase continued back through the Metis Settlement until it could run no longer. The people inside ran off, but all were quickly arrested.
“All RCMP members involved in this incident used teamwork and co-ordination to bring a safe resolution to the pursuit,” says Wilson. “They demonstrated a high level of professionalism despite the dangers they faced and the intensity of the situation.”
Two men from Edmonton are facing several charges, including assault on a police officer with a weapon, flight from police, resisting a police officer, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and failing to comply with a probation order. A 16 year old boy from Cold Lake, a 17 year old girl from Frog Lake, and a 14 year old girl from the Elizabeth Metis Settlement are also facing similar charges.
