A 39-year-old man from Lac La Biche is set to appear in court on September 9, following a brief police chase that ended in a crash near Plamondon on August 12. The incident, which led to multiple charges, involved a coordinated effort by various law enforcement units.
Lac La Biche RCMP revealed details of the arrest on August 17, highlighting the involvement of the East Alberta Crime Reduction Unit, Lakeland Crime Reduction Unit, RCMP Alberta Police Dog Services, and RCMP Air Services. The police had been conducting an operation targeting individuals with outstanding criminal warrants in the Lac La Biche area when the pursuit began.
Officers attempted to stop a vehicle, but it sped away, prompting a chase. With the assistance of an RCMP helicopter, the vehicle was soon located, having crashed in a rural area near Plamondon. RCMP Police Dog Services then tracked down and arrested the suspected driver, who was found nearby without further incident.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a substantial amount of copper wire, estimated to weigh several hundred pounds, as well as suspected stolen tools and vehicle diagnostic equipment.
The suspect, identified as Matthew Jesso of Lac La Biche, now faces multiple charges, including criminal flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and trafficking in property obtained by crime. Following a judicial hearing, Jesso was remanded into custody and will appear before the Lac La Biche Court of Justice on September 9.
Local RCMP have not released additional details regarding the incident, with Lac La Biche Media Relations Officer Cst. Jordan Walker stated, “As these matters are now before the courts, no further updates or details surrounding the incident will be provided.”
To identify the owners of the recovered items, RCMP have released images of the copper wire and diagnostic tool. Walker noted that positive proof of ownership would be required to claim the items.
Lac La Biche RCMP encourages the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity to contact 911, and if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
