An Alberta man wanted for ramming a police car and a string of armed robberies across the Prairies was arrested by RCMP in Rocky Mountain House early Wednesday morning.
Tyler Darrell Leeder of Lethbridge surrendered to police shortly after 1 a.m. outside the House Hotel in Rocky Mountain House, said Sgt. Patricia Neely, media relations officer for the RCMP in Alberta.
A 17-year-old girl believed to have been travelling with Leeder was also taken into custody by police without incident. She had been listed as missing under the Canadian Police Information Centre.
Leeder is wanted as a suspect in a series of armed bank robberies in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, as well as for ramming a police cruiser with his white Ford truck near Irricana on April 1, injuring an officer.
RCMP received a tip from the public that Leeder was in Rocky Mountain House around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday night, said Neely. Police later located Leeder’s white Ford F350 outside the hotel.
Leeder was believed to be inside, armed and dangerous.
RCMP police service dogs, a helicopter and the RCMP Emergency Response Team were called in. After about an hour of negotiations with the response team, Leeder gave himself up.
No members of the public or officers were injured, said Neely.
Leeder is in custody in Rocky Mountain House. He will be returned to prison on parole violation, said Neely. No court date has yet been set.
Investigations continue.
rfrancoeur@www.reddeeradvocate.com