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Bonnyville RCMP assist with multi-region pursuit

Bonnyville RCMP assisted in the pursuit and arrest of three youth and two adults, in relation to outstanding warrants for serious offences. On Oct.
Truck
The vehicle the suspects used to flee was later to be determined as stolen.

Bonnyville RCMP assisted in the pursuit and arrest of three youth and two adults, in relation to outstanding warrants for serious offences.

On Oct. 9, members from the Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and Elk Point detachments, along with the Cold Lake Police Dog Services Unit and the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU), were involved in a pursuit that spanned through Fishing Lake, Frog Lake, the MD of Bonnyville, Elizabeth Métis Settlement, and into Saskatchewan.

“We were targeting some high-risk offenders in the Lakeland area and a pursuit was initiated, which resulted in the arrest of three youth and two adults,” detailed Cold Lake RCMP Sgt. Ryan Howrish.

With the assistance of the RCMP Air Services, the three youth, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, 18-year-old Desmond Spence, and 19-year-old Cody Spence were arrested without injuries.

“All RCMP members involved in this incident used teamwork and coordination to bring a safe resolution to the pursuit,” Cst. Guillaume Wilson (EADRCRU) said in a release. “They demonstrated a high-level of professionalism despite the dangers they faced and the intensity of the situation.”

The incident started on Tuesday morning (Oct. 9), when multiple detachments conducted a joint operation to apprehend a male wanted on warrants for serious offences.

Officers in Fishing Lake believed they had spotted the male inside of a vehicle that failed to stop for police and fled at high speed.

Police pursued the vehicle, which went through multiple communities. At the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, the suspect evaded arresting officers by striking the windshield of a police vehicle with a metal pipe.

Officers believed the suspect vehicle was hiding somewhere along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, and detained the area with the assistance of Saskatchewan RCMP.

“Many people believe that crossing provincial lines will force us to cease efforts to apprehend them, but this is certainly not the case,” stated Wilson. “We’re Canada’s police force and provincial borders will not prevent us from stopping criminals and keeping Canadians safe.”

Using RCMP Air Services, they located the vehicle on a trail system along the border.

Members surrounded the area, and initiated a spike belt when the vehicle attempted to flee.

The EADRCRU and Cold Lake PDS re-engaged the suspect vehicle in a pursuit, which led to the Elizabeth Métis Settlement.

The occupants of the vehicle fled on foot before being arrested by police.

The vehicle involved was later confirmed to be stolen.

Desmond Spence and Cody Spence, both of Edmonton, were arrested and charged with assault on a police officer with a weapon, flight from police, resisting a peace officer, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and failing to comply with a probation order.

Both males remain in custody until their bail hearing, and are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, Oct. 15.

A 16-year-old male from Cold Lake, a 17-year-old Frog Lake female, and a 14-year-old female from Elizabeth Métis Settlement, were charged with multiple Criminal Code offences including assault on a police officer with a weapon, resisting a peace officer, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and flight from police.

The 16-year-old male and 14-year-old female are also facing charges for failing to comply with conditions.

All youth were released on conditions after a judicial hearing and are scheduled to appear in Cold Lake Provincial Court on Oct. 24. 

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