Two 20-year-olds are accused of leading police on a wild chase through Central Alberta that ended when a spike belt sent their vehicle into a ditch.
Friday afternoon, a Rimbey RCMP member checked out a reportedly stolen vehicle that was parked in the Servus Credit Union. When the officer investigated a woman was in the driver’s seat and a man was standing outside of the truck.
Police said both the man and woman failed to comply with the officer’s demands. The male jumped into the passenger side and the truck then rammed the police vehicle several times before fleeing north, out of Rimbey.
A pursuit was attempted, but terminated for public safety reasons.
Half an later, Sylvan Lake RCMP officers assisting in the Rimbey area located the same suspect vehicle, this time with the male driving. Again, the vehicle failed to stop for police and the pursuit was terminated for public safety reasons.
Officers positioned themselves in the area and were able to relocate the vehicle. A spike belt was deployed on Hwy 766 and Hwy 12. The vehicle was eventually disabled and drove off the highway, into the ditch. Both occupants fled on foot, but were caught immediately.
Police believe this same vehicle and suspects were involved in a gas and dash in Sylvan Lake earlier in the day and a residential break and enter that was interrupted by an observant neighbour. It is alleged that during the break and enter, the male suspect wore a bandana over his face and carried a hand gun.
Police recovered items stolen during the break and enter along with a replica hand gun.
A 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were arrested. They face a long list of charges including break and enter, flight from police, assaulting a police officer, assault with a weapon, identity theft, possession an imitation firearm while committing an offence and possession of stolen property over $5,000.
Officers also linked the man with the Sept. 14 robbery of the Sylvan Lake Canadian Tire. He is accused of robbery.
Both will appear in Red Deer provincial court on Monday.