A Red Deer woman is one of two suspects arrested and charged after incidents in the Stony Plain area culminated in the blocking off of a haunted house attraction on Halloween as police sought the second suspect.
The initial incident began late last week when Spruce Grove/Stony Plain RCMP received a complaint about a suspicious vehicle in Wabamun, claiming the occupants were smoking drugs. Police located the vehicle and activated their emergency equipment, at which time the vehicle allegedly fled at a dangerously high rate of speed.
Given that it was 3 p.m. and numerous students were walking home from school, a pursuit was not initiated, police said.
The same vehicle was discovered Friday evening (Halloween) on Paul Band Reserve in the Wabamun area. Again, police initiated a traffic stop, obtaining identification from the female driver.
RCMP said drug paraphernalia was witnessed in the console, and when police asked the woman driver to exit the vehicle, she raced away at a high rate of speed, almost striking the officer’s foot.
The suspect vehicle raced through a field, and police chose not to pursue due to the high speeds and hazards present.
Police later located the vehicle in Alberta Beach, and allege it was still being driven at exceedingly high speeds and frightening many children out trick-or-treating, police said.
It sped out of town, with numerous police and Alberta Sheriffs monitoring its whereabouts.
The vehicle was then located on Hwy 16 West of Stony Plain, still refusing to stop for police emergency lights and sirens.
The vehicle came to a sudden stop on the highway because it had run out of gas, and a semi-truck narrowly averted striking it.
The driver, a man, took off running, and the woman passenger surrendered to police.
Because there was some indication that the male suspect may have a firearm, Police Dog Services and Air 1 helicopter assisted in the search. The area where the suspect fled was cordoned off for public safety.
This affected some people who were trick-or-treating in the subdivision and visiting a popular haunted house.
Shortly after, the canine unit discovered the male suspect hiding inside a garage on a rural property. He was arrested.
Jacob Robert Lee Swan, 23, of Alberta Beach is facing charges of flight from police and dangerous driving.
Erin Amber Rose Williams, 19, of Red Deer is facing a charge of flight from police. Police also executed 10 outstanding warrants for her arrest.
Both Williams and Swan remain in custody. Police said Saturday they would be opposing their release.