Red Deer RCMP have released the identity of a suspect arrested after two police officers were injured when a police vehicle was rammed late Friday morning.
At 11:20 a.m., RCMP went to the scrap metal business Tervita (formerly Harper’s Metals) at 8149 Edgar Industrial Close after receiving information that a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for parole violation was at the location.
RCMP allege that when they spoke with the man, he threatened to kill the police officers. He then resisted arrest and would not comply with police.
RCMP allege he was in possession of a stolen truck, and when he attempted to flee the site, he drove through a closed bay door at Trevita and rammed a police vehicle.
Two police officers were injured as a result. They received medical treatment and were released at the scene.
There was extensive damage to one of the building’s westside loading bay doors and a nearby office window.
Numerous Red Deer City RCMP officers arrived at the yard after receiving information that a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant was there, said Insp. Lawrence Aimoe of Red Deer City RCMP.
The suspect was arrested shortly after and taken into custody.
Supt. Warren Dosko, who is in charge of Red Deer city RCMP detachment, said the situation on scene was tense, particularly when a violent, unco-operative individual was being dealt with.
“It certainly challenges those nerves and makes you appreciate the job that we’re doing,” said Dosko.
Dosko wasn’t on scene, so he could only surmise that police had guns drawn when getting ready to arrest the man.
One of the injured officers did end up going to Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre so he could get further checked out by a doctor, Dosko said.
“It was more for precautionary reasons,” he said.
Richard Allan Parkhurst, 48, of Red Deer faces a number of Criminal Code charges. Those charges have not been released.
Police say they will release updated information when their investigation is complete.