INNISFAIL – RCMP are searching for clues to find the culprit who crashed a holiday trailer into the downtown ATB building early Monday morning.
Innisfail RCMP Sgt. Mike Zufferli said police noticed at about 4:30 a.m. on June 19 a white Dodge Ram truck hauling a holiday trailer on the east side of town when it suddenly began fleeing.
“It left the area very quickly, which caused the members to investigate,” said Zufferli, adding patrolling Mounties did “reacquire” the fleeing truck and holiday trailer.
“They attempted to make a traffic stop. The vehicle fled, hauling the trailer.”
However, the Mounties soon “disengaged” contact with the fleeing truck and trailer as they opted to follow the RCMP pursuit policy for safety reasons.
Nevertheless, patrolling Mounties continued to search for the culprit. They soon located the trailer.
Zufferli said the trailer, which later was determined to have been stolen from a Penhold property 20 minutes before being first spotted by police, had crashed into the corner of the ATB building at Bankers Corner in downtown Innisfail.
“It looks like the trailer wasn't hooked up properly to the truck that was towing it,” said Zufferli. “It looks like when they took the corner on Main Street, the travel trailer sheared off the hitch on the truck, and it crashed into the front of the ATB.”
He said the holiday trailer was found by police with its front end on the sidewalk and its rear on the street.
Zufferli said the crash caused only superficial damage to the brick siding of the ATB building, as well as minor “scuffing” of the sidewalk and damage to a traffic control device.
He said Innisfail RCMP is still investigating the incident and is currently in the process of gathering surveillance video from different businesses around town.
Zufferli said RCMP is also trying to determine ownership of the white Dodge Ram truck, and whether it was stolen.
Any citizen who has any information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Innisfail RCMP at 403-227-3341 or their local police.
Alternatively, tipsters wanting to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), as well as submit information online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the P3 Tips app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
