SUNDRE — Three suspects attempting to flee from officers rode a stolen vehicle’s rims for a distance before a second tire deflation device deployed by police successfully ended a lengthy chase that started in the Rocky Mountain House RCMP’s jurisdiction.
At about 6:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 29, police in Rocky Mountain House received a report of a possible impaired motorist, media relations officer Cpl. Laurel Scott said the following day during a phone interview.
“There was some erratic driving patterns reported,” said Scott.
Members of the detachment in Rocky located the vehicle and observed a driving pattern that was consistent with the information dispatched to police, she said.
“The vehicle failed to stop, and a pursuit was initiated.”
The lengthy chase spanned through Caroline, Sundre and finally ended in the Didsbury RCMP detachment’s area following the successful deployment of two tire deflation devices, she said.
“The suspect vehicle, which was determined to be stolen, did continue driving on the rims for an extended time after the (initial) tire deflation device.”
Fortunately, no one was harmed, she said.
“No injuries were sustained by anybody, neither the RCMP members, any civilians nor the suspects themselves. And there was no damage to any police vehicles.”
All three suspects in the stolen vehicle, who are from Alberta, were subsequently taken into custody and charged with several criminal offences, she said.
The response involved a coordinated effort that included the Innisfail and Sundre detachments, she said.
Although the suspects’ vehicle was determined to have been stolen, Scott could not immediately say where it was stolen from.
The driver faces eight criminal code charges, including impaired driving as well as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, while the two passengers face five charges.
