Stay informed with the LNN Daily Newsletter

Man arrested after ramming RCMP cruiser and continuing a crime spree

Jan 14, 2019 | 11:34 AM

COALDALE —  ***Up-Date  An extended crime spree came to an end Monday afternoon, thanks to overwhelming tips from the public which helped RCMP determine the identity of the suspect in this vehicle theft case.

Around 4:20-pm, a stolen black 1993 Chevrolet truck was reported in the Tempest area east of Coaldale as a suspicious vehicle. Members from three area RCMP Detachments along with a K-9 unit from the Lethbridge Police converged to the area. 

The driver and lone occupant, a 32-year old man from the Lethbridge area, was followed from the Tempest/Chin area to the east side of Stafford Lake, where he ditched the stolen truck and ran on foot across the partially ice-covered Stafford Lake.

On the west side of the lake, the suspect tried to enter several vehicles before disappearing in the residential area. A home owner alerted officers that his garage alarm had just been activated. When they tried the main door, it was found to be barricaded from the inside.

Officers entered the double-car garage using the garage door opener and found the suspect hiding on a storage platform above the garage door.   

The suspect was arrested but, a name won’t be released, as charges are still pending. An initial list of nine criminal charges include break and enter, possession of stolen property, flight from police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and a number of provincial traffic offences including driving while suspended.

BACKGROUND:

RCMP want to hear from anyone who may recognize the suspect who rammed a police vehicle early Moday (Jan 14) morning.
 
Around 5:30, Coaldale RCMP received a complaint of a man passed out in the driver’s seat of a white Dodge Ram 1500, parked in a farmers yard along Highway 512 in Lethbridge County. 
 
The detachment had received numerous complaints of a similar type truck previously stolen from the Picture Butte area. Complaints have also been received from the public regarding a white Dodge Ram truck being at several rural locations possibly stealing fuel.  

Two officers went to the location, with the first positioning his police vehicle directly in front of the white Dodge truck in a attempt to block it in. 

Another officer approached the drivers door of the white truck on foot and the unknown man woke up. He then began to drive forward pushing the police vehicle backwards and out of the way. The white Dodge truck then fled and was located abandoned a few hours later in a rural area.

 It was confirmed at that time the truck was stolen. The RCMP vehicle sustained damages to the front grill and fender area. It was still operational after the collision and the officer was not injured. 

The public is being asked to hep identify the male driver based on  in car police vehicle camera photos. The public is also encouraged to notify the Coaldale RCMP about suspicious people and vehicles in their areas, to assist with rural crime prevention and detection.  

If anyone has any information in this crime or any other please contact the Coaldale Rural RCMP at (403) 329-5080/ Coaldale Municipal RCMP at (403) 345-5552 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.