Charges are pending against four males from Elizabeth Métis Settlement and two more suspects remain at large after the suspects allegedly committed a variety of criminal acts ending in a high-speed pursuit on Highway 657 on Feb. 12, according to an RCMP press release.
The release explains Bonnyville RCMP received two complaints from the public about “threatening behaviour” on the afternoon of Feb. 12. One incident involved the occupants of two pickup trucks threatening another motorist in downtown Bonnyville. The suspects broke the rear tail light of the victim's truck with baseball bats before the victim could drive away.
A short time later, a witness reported a male with a baseball bat chasing a child. The child was trying to escape on a bike and the two suspected pickup trucks were seen in the area again following the child and the male with the baseball bat. The child outran the suspect, police said.
Bonnyville RCMP located the vehicles near the Centennial Centre and both trucks fled. Police followed one vehicle, which crashed through a fence and got stuck. The driver of the vehicle then allegedly aimed the truck towards the officer who was attempting to stop him and “attempted to run the officer down,” according to the press release.
The officer escaped injury and the suspects fled on foot and remain at large.
The second pickup truck was located a short time later on Highway 657 and the driver attempted to flee again. A high-speed chase resulted, with speeds reaching up to 140 kilometres/hour as the vehicle headed towards the Elizabeth Métis Settlement. The press release states “the public was never felt to be in grave danger.”
Cold Lake RCMP assisted during the pursuit.
When the suspects' vehicle became disabled, they gave themselves up and no injuries resulted from the pursuit. The driver of the vehicle has been processed for impaired driving and other driving offences and the passenger was arrested as well.
RCMP are requesting anyone who saw a newer red Dodge truck or an older blue Ford F150 on the afternoon of Feb. 12 to call police at 780-826-3350.
A traffic stop on Highway 28 near Glendon resulted in Bonnyville RCMP finding 320 grams of crack cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $33,000.
According to an RCMP press release, on Feb. 6 at 4:00 p.m., RCMP pulled over a Dodge Journey near Glendon. Before the vehicle came to a stop, the RCMP officer noticed something thrown from the passenger window.
The release says the occupants of the vehicle were “very nervous” when police spoke with them and an assisting officer retrieved the crack cocaine on the side of the road.
An 18-year-old male from Edmonton has been charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine, one count of breach of his release conditions and one count of possession of marijuana. A 17-year-old female, also of Edmonton, was charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking crack cocaine and one count of possession of marijuana.
