A desperate Central Alberta fugitive who led police, including RCMP, on a wild and dangerous chase through the region has been nabbed in Edmonton.
Lance James Peters, 24, of Huxley, is now facing 43 Criminal Code charges from several police jurisdictions, including the Innisfail RCMP area. RCMP said additional charges are pending.
Police said Peters, who was described as violent, armed and dangerous, has allegedly stolen several vehicles and been involved in numerous break and enters of several residences over the past two weeks in the Rocky Mountain House, Sylvan Lake, Markerville and Gleniffer Lake areas.
Peters became a person of interest to the Innisfail RCMP at around 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 when detachment members were travelling westbound to assist Rocky Mountain House Mounties to locate a suspect vehicle which had just been involved in multiple break, enter and thefts.
Local RCMP members were dispatched to check out a report of a black Cadillac that struck the gate at the Gleniffer Lake resort, said Innisfail RCMP Cpl. Don Morrish.
He said the vehicle matched the description of the one sought by Rocky Mountain House RCMP.
“The driver of that vehicle subsequently jumped out of the damaged vehicle which turned out to be stolen, and proceeded to threaten a female resident in her home and demanded the keys to her vehicles,” said Morrish.
He said as the suspect attempted to steal the lady's vehicle, the culprit was confronted by two males who had rushed to the aid of the female.
“They were able to stop the male from stealing her vehicle but the suspect was able to get away from the two males, and proceeded to steal their vehicle and leave the area northbound at a high rate of speed,” said Morrish.
He said the suspect headed to a rural area north of Markerville and was injured during an attempted robbery. At that point the culprit was in Sylvan Lake RCMP's jurisdiction and he was pursued by Mounties from that detachment.
Sylvan Lake RCMP said at about 11:15 p.m. on Oct. 11 police conducted a routine traffic stop on a Dodge Ram truck near a local school.
The driver of the truck lied to police about his name but his true identity was later confirmed, said Sylvan Lake RCMP. Police attempted to arrest the male for numerous outstanding warrants but he fled the scene.
RCMP said the suspect fled in the Dodge Ram truck and narrowly missed a police officer on foot. The fugitive then rammed a police vehicle to escape.
Mounties initiated a pursuit that went through Sylvan Lake and then north on Highway 20 towards Bentley. The pursuit was eventually terminated by police, as they believed there was too much risk to the public, said RCMP.
On Oct. 16, RCMP announced Peters was arrested without incident by the Edmonton Police Service while a passenger in a motor vehicle.
“Thanks in big part to Rocky Mountain House RCMP's General Investigation Section, Sylvan Lake detachment and Edmonton Police Service, along with all the other assisting agencies, this dangerous individual has been caught and is in custody,” said Morrish.
Included in the 43 Criminal Code offences Peters is facing, there are nine break-and-enter charges, one for assault with a weapon, six counts of theft of a motor vehicle and two charges of robbery.
Also included in the overall charges are several laid by the Innisfail RCMP that stem from the Oct. 9 incident at Gleniffer Lake.
Morrish said local Mounties have charged Peters with break and enter to commit a robbery, one count of robbery and two additional counts of uttering threats.
Peters will appear in Red Deer provincial court on Oct. 24.
