MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — A male from Rimbey faces a long list of charges in connection with the discovery of a stolen vehicle following a coordinated police effort involving multiple detachments.
On Monday, Jan. 10 at about 1:50 p.m., the Sundre RCMP located the vehicle — believed to have been stolen from Calgary — travelling southbound on Highway 22 heading toward Sundre, police reported in a press statement issued today (Jan. 12).
When officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Rge. Rd. 34 just north of Twp. Rd. 340, police said the driver of the stolen 2003 black Hummer proceeded to accelerate and flee in an effort to evade police at a high rate of speed.
“Upon determining the driver was not going to comply, the traffic stop was terminated,” said police.
The driver of the stolen vehicle continued in a northbound direction along Rge. Rd. 34 and was eventually located by RCMP about six kilometres north after losing control and rolling into a ditch.
Despite the crash, the suspect managed to escape from the wreck and was observed fleeing on foot through a field by Mounties who arrived on the scene. Additional RCMP units from Olds, Sundre, and Innisfail as well as the RCMP Police Dog Services were called in to assist.
Officers were able to catch up with and arrest the suspect without incident prior to the arrival of the police dog, said police. With the assistance of the canine unit, members conducted a search of the immediate area in the vicinity of the crash site and were able to determine the suspect was the lone occupant in the vehicle, police reported.
Emergency Medical Services were also dispatched as the suspect sustained non-life threatening injures as a result of the rollover. The suspect was transported by EMS to hospital for further assessment and treatment. He was later released and returned to police custody.
Alan Ray McAbee, 42, of Rimbey, now faces 18 charges including:
• flight from peace officer;
• two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
• two counts of knowingly possessing a prohibited or restricted weapon;
• two counts of possessing a firearm in a vehicle;
• two counts of careless use and/or storage of a firearm;
• possessing break-in instruments;
• possession of stolen property more than $5,000;
• operating a motor vehicle while prohibited;
• possession for the purpose of trafficking (Controlled Drug and Substances Act);
• possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis (CBA); and
• four counts of failing to comply with a release order.
After a judicial hearing, McAbee did not speak to bail and was remanded to custody. He was scheduled to next appear in Didsbury provincial court on Jan. 24. As these matters are now before the courts, police said no further details can be released.
