An Airdrie woman tracked to Red Deer by police and charged in connection with a vehicle theft in Calgary was sentenced to 45 days in custody on Tuesday in Red Deer provincial court.
Melissa Johnston, 28, was arrested along with Darren Bergman, 28, of Calgary by RCMP members assisting a Calgary police helicopter that was following a northbound pickup truck on Sept. 27.
Police said earlier that the suspects inside the fleeing vehicle were unaware that they were being followed until a spike belt was deployed to disable the vehicle. The vehicle continued north on Hwy 2 on shredded tires for some distance before becoming inoperable, and then both suspects tried to flee on foot.
Police said a police dog apprehended the woman, who had been driving the truck, as she ran into traffic on the highway.
On Tuesday, Johnston pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property and failing to comply with conditions and was sentenced to 45 days in custody, less 19 days of pretrial custody.
Charges of dangerous operation of motor vehicle and failure to hold a valid operators licence were withdrawn by the Crown.