Suspected car thieves rammed a police cruiser and dragged a High River RCMP officer a short distance during a two-day crime spree that stretched across the Foothills.
On the morning of Feb. 22, High River RCMP received a report that several vehicles in the Sheppard Family Park area had their windows smashed out. Approximately 25 minutes later, police received a report of a possible stolen truck near the Bank of Montreal in the town’s southeast.
RCMP officers located the truck in a business parking lot. A police cruiser was parked behind the truck and officers approached the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Two men were in the truck at the time and conversation with the officers escalated, eventually becoming a struggle.
During the altercation, the passenger managed to get the truck into reverse to ram into the police cruiser. The truck was then placed in drive and was driven over several curbs before fleeing the area.
One officer was dragged a short distance before he was able to release himself from the driver’s-side door. He was treated for minor injuries at the scene.
The truck was last seen travelling east on 12 Avenue before leaving town on Highway 23.
Later that morning at approximately 11:37 a.m., police received a call of a vehicle fire in the MD of Foothills near Blackie. Police arrived to find the truck from the High River incident had been set on fire and a vehicle from a nearby farm was stolen. This vehicle is described as a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe with an Alberta license plate BTM7554.
A home at the farm was also broken into and some items were also stolen form inside the house.
Further investigation revealed the truck from the High River incidents was stolen from Nanton on Feb. 21 and its license plate had been previously stolen from Lethbridge.
Okotoks RCMP say the incidents may also be related to a series of thefts in town on Feb. 21.
Staff Sgt. Jim Ross said there were a total of eight incidents across Okotoks where thieves stole items from vehicles, including several cases where windows were broken.
RCMP continue to investigate these incidents.
Police are now asking for assistance from anyone who may have information that could help locate the stolen Hyundai Santa Fe or that could identity the two suspects involved in the High River incident. Anyone with information can contact High River RCMP at 403-652-2357.
