Two men are in custody accused of trying to run over a police officer during a crime spree throughout Central Alberta on Thursday.
RCMP said on Friday that two suspects were arrested near Breton shortly after noon on Thursday after a vehicle and foot chase.
The incident began after police pulled over a pickup being driven at high speed on Hwy 22 about 35 km north of Rocky Mountain House.
When the truck was pulled over the driver put it into reverse, slamming into the patrol car.
“One of the officers exited the police car and the suspect vehicle then appeared to attempt to run over the standing officer,” says RCMP K-Division spokesperson Sgt. Josée Valiquette in a news release.
“The officer was unharmed and the driver then took off.”
After a 30-minute pursuit, the truck pulled over and two suspects jumped out and started running. Police caught up and arrested them.
A search of the vehicle found a loaded shotgun, stolen property, cartons of cigarettes, stolen IDs and licence plates, and more than $2,000 in cash.
Further investigation connected the suspects to an alleged attempt to break in to an ATM outside the Servus Credit Union branch in Rimbey about 4:20 a.m. that day.
It is also alleged that 20 minutes later the pair were involved in a break and enter at a closed Esso gas station in town. Cash and cigarettes were stolen.
Shortly before 5 a.m. Rimbey RCMP got a report of a pickup truck on fire on the outskirts of town. The pickup had been stolen earlier that evening and was believed to have been used in the crime spree.
RCMP said two men are facing a long list of criminal charges, including vehicle theft, possession of dangerous weapons, dangerous driving, hit and run, flight from police and assaulting a police officer
One of the suspects also faces charges in connection to an armed home invasion in Hinton on April 5, 2015.
Both remain in custody. Their names and specific charges have not yet been released.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com