Alberta man accused of injuring two officers faces dozens of charges

Edmonton – An Alberta man accused of shooting one RCMP officer and running over another officer with a truck has been charged with 36 offences in connection to the incident.

Michael Leslie Johnson is being held in custody as he receives medical attention after being wounded last week in a shootout with RCMP.

The charges Johnson is facing, include: four counts of attempted murder with a firearm, break and enter of a home, resisting arrest, and operating a motor vehicle in a manner that is dangerous to the public and thereby causing bodily harm.

The situation began around Monday afternoon, Jan. 6, when RCMP received a call about a man allegedly threatening to “kill an individual who lives in the Mundare area.”

RCMP from three detachments – Vegreville, Tofield, and Two Hills – set out to find the suspect who was thought to be armed with a handgun.

While searching for him, RCMP received a call from a farmer about a break-in at his home. The suspect, who got away, matched the description of the man RCMP were looking for.

“We know he stole three long-barrel firearms from this farmer’s residence,” said RCMP Chief Supt. Randy McGinnis.

An investigation led five officers to the home of the suspect’s acquaintance. That’s where things took a turn.

“At the time we didn’t know the suspect was there,” McGinnis explained.

A husband and wife were also at the rural property. The woman – who was inside the home – was taken into custody, but the search continued for her husband and the initial suspect.

When officers found the original suspect, “we attempted to make an arrest, there was a physical altercation… he managed to escape,” explained McGinnis.

The man ran to his vehicle and tried to drive away.

“He attempted to flee the yard and got stuck in a snow bank,” said McGinnis. “We entered into a gunfight with this individual and our members were injured.”

McGinnis explained one member’s arm was “grazed” by a bullet. He was treated and released.

The other officer was run over and seriously injured. He has since been released from hospital and is recovering at home.

“With the laying of charges there is relief among our members, their spouses, and the law enforcement community in general,” says Chief Superintendent McGinnis, Eastern Alberta District Commander. “When a member of our community is injured in the line of duty, we all feel it.”

Johnson has been remanded in custody while receiving medical attention.

The 33-year-old is scheduled to appear in Vegreville Provincial Court on Jan. 27.

An independent review of the incident is being conducted by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team.