CALGARY – Global News has confirmed one of the suspects involved in a fatal hit and run collision in the city’s southwest on Thursday is the underage son of a senior Calgary police officer.
A truck, which police said was stolen from Chestermere, was travelling the wrong way on northbound 37 Street S.W. when it collided head-on with a small car just south of 130 Avenue S.W. at around 6:30 a.m.
The crash killed the driver of the car, a man in his 50s whose identity hasn’t been released.
READ MORE: ASIRT investigating Tsuu T’ina police actions after stolen truck gets into fatal hit and run
The driver of the truck and two passengers exited the vehicle and ran from the scene. Police were able to later locate two suspects, a male youth and a woman, who were taken into custody.
The 17-year-old male youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with one count of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and one count of occupying a stolen motor vehicle. He was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to return to court on March 31.
Sources tell Global News the male youth has a father who serves in the Calgary Police Service (CPS). The Calgary Police Service, however, wouldn’t confirm the relationship between the suspect and CPS.
Janelle Umpherville, 26, is charged with six offences, including four counts of possession of stolen property, taking a vehicle without consent and breaching conditions of bail (recognizance) on previous criminal charges.
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Global News has learned she had been charged with 10 counts of possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance in July 2015, and failed to appear in court on those charges Feb. 4, 2016.
On May 7 and again on Oct. 22, 2015 she was charged with shoplifting. She failed to appear in court on those charges Jan. 11, 2016.
She was also charged with two counts of possession of stolen property on Jan. 20, 2016.
Umpherville remains in custody and is due in court next week.
When Global News contacted the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) Friday, a spokesperson was unable to confirm any details, including whether they would expand their investigation as a result of this information, and said they wouldn’t be releasing anything further at this time.
Police continue to search for a third suspect, believed to be the driver.
ASIRT investigates actions of Tsuu T’ina Nation
It’s believed an officer with the Tsuu T’ina Nation police attempted to stop the stolen truck prior to the fatal crash as it traveled through the reserve at a high rate of speed.
On Thursday, ASIRT confirmed it was reviewing the actions of the Tsuu T’ina police, and asked witnesses to contact investigators by calling 403-592-4306.
Tsuu T’ina sent out a media release confirming only that the “incident occurred on the Tsuu T’ina Nation.”
With files from Global’s Tony Tighe
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