St. Paul RCMP, in conjunction with the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU), conducted a joint operation after identifying a stolen vehicle at a property in St. Paul on Oct. 24. A collision with police occurred as a result of the incident, and one man was charged.
Three individuals entered the suspect vehicle and were approached by police. Two females from the vehicle were then arrested, but the male driver of the vehicle accelerated and collided into a police vehicle while fleeing the scene.
A short pursuit occurred that went outside the town of St. Paul into the County of St. Paul and ended when the fleeing vehicle collided with another police vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was arrested with the assistance of RCMP Police Dog Services (PDS).
A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of substances believed to be cocaine and methamphetamine, a conducted energy weapon (tazer), and several knives. The RCMP member who was struck in the second collision suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, but later released.
Tyrone Shirt (32) from Saddle Lake, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant, was charged with several new offences, including:
· Assault on a police officer with a weapon (x2)
· Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
· Flight from police
· Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
· Failing to provide a blood sample
· Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
· Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking (x2)
· Resisting a peace officer (x2)
· Possession of a weapon contrary to an order (x3)
· possession of a prohibited weapon contrary to an order (x2)
· possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (x2)
· Driving while unauthorized
The accused suffered serious non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collision. He was taken to hospital and remanded into police custody after a judicial hearing. He is scheduled to appear in St. Paul Provincial Court via CCTV on Nov. 1.
The two females were later released from custody without charges. The vehicle was previously reported stolen from Edmonton.
