Three Red Deerians were charged after carjacking a cab near the Edmonton International Airport on Nov. 13.
RCMP said a stolen vehicle was stopped near the main terminal of the airport, and as police prepared to approach the vehicle, a suspect forcibly took a cab and used bear spray against the cab driver before fleeing in the cab.
Police said the suspect drove towards police at a high rate of speed in the cab and did not stop. Officers, who were outside of their vehicles at the time, were not injured.
RCMP followed the suspect, but the stolen cab failed to stop. Edmonton Police Service took over the pursuit when the cab entered Edmonton and successfully deployed a spike belt. Three suspects were apprehended.
Wetaskiwin RCMP was the first to encounter the suspects at about 11:05 p.m. when an officer saw a truck with a burned-out headlight travelling in the area of Highway 2a and 36 Avenue in Wetaskiwin. The officer lost sight of the vehicle.
A short time later, the vehicle was located in the area of Township 460 and Highway 2A and police determined the vehicle had been stolen from Red Deer.
RCMP Police Dog Services and Edmonton Police Service Air 1 helicopter followed the vehicle from a distance while additional police resources were deployed. The vehicle ended up at the airport where the cab was stolen.
A 33-year-old Red Deer man was charged with 19 offences, including the following possession of property over $5,000, two counts of flight from police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, three counts of assault peace officer with weapon, and robbery with a weapon. He was remanded into custody and scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on Nov. 30.
A 39-year-old Red Deer woman faces 15 offences and a 34-year-old Red Deer woman was charged with 13 offences. Their charges include possession of property over $5,000, two counts of flight from police, dangerous operation of a vehicle, three counts of assault peace officer with weapon, and robbery with a weapon. They were both remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in Wetaskiwin Provincial Court on Nov. 18.
“This was a situation where the actions of these suspects posed a risk to both the public and the police,” said RCMP Insp. Keith Durance, officer in Charge of Wetaskiwin RCMP.
“We are thankful we were able to stop further offences from occurring and successfully apprehend these individuals in partnership with the Edmonton Police Service.”