Athabasca RCMP arrested and charged five people April 20 after suspects twice fled in a vehicle and ran over a spike belt.
RCMP found the five suspects in the bush April 20 around Range Road 214 after they fled from the damaged vehicle, Athabasca RCMP Cpl. Steve Bereza said in an interview. The five suspects were arrested without further incident and no one was hurt, he added.
"We all were happy with the outcome," Bereza said. "When we can walk away with an incident where nobody gets hurt, that's the main thing."
Athabasca RCMP were patrolling April 20 at approximately 11 a.m. in response to several calls about a truck driving erratically, according to an April 21 press release. RCMP located and attempted to stop the vehicle as it took off and tried to avoid police.
"The suspect vehicle swerved at an oncoming police vehicle, just missing the police cruiser," the press release said. "Police stopped their attempt at trying to stop the suspects for public safety reasons."
RCMP later located the vehicle parked at a residence along Highway 827 that is "well known to police," the press release said. Athabasca and Boyle RCMP, along with an emergency response team and police dog services, contained the area "as it was believed suspects were inside and armed."
"Five people came outside and entered back into the suspect vehicle and drove recklessly out of the yard, avoiding police," the press release said.
The vehicle travelled northeast and hit a spike belt set up by RCMP on Range Road 214, the press release said. The vehicle entered a rural residence with front tire damage and the suspects fled into the bush, the release said.
The April 21 press release also discusses an armed robbery April 18. The release said RCMP were called to attend an armed robbery and assault on an Athabasca resident, with three male suspects involved.
The five suspects all face multiple Criminal Code charges not listed in the April 21 press release. Bereza said due to the number of charges, a full list of charges could not be provided until next week.
RCMP diverted traffic on Highway 827 between Highway 55 and Highway 663 April 20 due to an "ongoing police incident," according to a press release sent the same day approximately 1 p.m.
Bereza confirmed the incident that diverted traffic was the same as the one described in the April 21 press release. The traffic diversion lasted until approximately 7 p.m., Bereza added.
For more on the story, see Tuesday's edition of the Athabasca Advocate.
