Court proceedings are slowly but surely getting underway for two Red Deer residents charged with multiple offences following a dangerous police pursuit in October that led officers to defensively discharge their firearms.
Shae-Lee Phillips, 20, of Red Deer, whose bail was revoked following a previous court date, has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Red Deer provincial court on May 16, 2018.
Nicholas James Wales, 20, of Red Deer, has been scheduled for election and plea on Nov. 30 in Red Deer provincial court.
On Friday, Oct. 13, Sundre RCMP received several reports of an erratic motorist driving in a threatening manner a pickup truck that later was discovered to have been stolen. Neighbouring detachments were advised to keep an eye out for the vehicle, which later that afternoon was spotted in the Rocky Mountain House district.
However, attempts to stop the vehicle were not successful, and the suspects were eventually observed travelling near Eckville, when an officer from the Sylvan Lake RCMP detachment, as well as a traffic member, initiated another attempt to end the pursuit. A spike belt was successfully deployed, but the suspects managed to turn around, resulting in an incident that led to the officer firing his weapon.
Officers continued their pursuit and the truck proceeded to ram an occupied RCMP vehicle, resulting in the police vehicle airbags deploying and that vehicle being disabled. As a result of the collision, the suspects' truck went into the ditch and became immobilized. The male driver and a male passenger exited and fled on foot. The female passenger was apprehended, transported to hospital and treated for minor injuries sustained during the first shooting.
The two men who fled entered two different rural properties in an attempt to steal another vehicle. Upon gaining access to another truck, the two men drove back towards the highway. Another incident occurred resulting in further discharging of police service weapons. The truck continued to travel a short distance across the highway, lost control, and then came to rest in the ditch.
Two of the three suspects were taken to the hospital with injuries. All three occupants of the stolen vehicle were located. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and transported to hospital. The male passenger was uninjured and taken into police custody.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is conducting an investigation, as is standard procedure when police officers discharge their service firearms. The investigation remains ongoing and further details will be provided when they become available.
Phillips is facing charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000 and uttering threats, while Wales was charged with eight offences, including the following: two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000; uttering threats; break and enter; resisting arrest; failing to stop for police; and assault with a weapon.
The third suspect, whose name has not yet been released, remains in recovery following the incident and also faces several charges related to the dangerous pursuit.
"Unfortunately these occurrences do happen," previously said RCMP media spokesperson Sgt. Jack Poitras during a phone interview with the Round Up.
"They were definitely on a rampage there," he said about the suspects.
Despite a few close calls, no members of the public or police were seriously hurt, the sergeant said.
