Calgary police arrest 3 after series of carjackings

CALGARY – Three people have been charged following a string of carjackings and other thefts around Calgary in the past week.

At around 9:30 p.m. last Friday, police were called to the Market Mall parking lot where a woman was approached by a man while in her van.

He opened the driver’s side door and pointed a gun at the woman, ordering her to get out of the vehicle. He then fled in the victim’s silver Chevrolet Venture alongside another vehicle, a red Ford Taurus.

Police suggested the two vehicles were working in tandem.

The carjacking victim’s vehicle registration was also found at the scene of an ATM break-in at a BMO in Silverado later that same day.

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The Taurus was recovered the next morning in the southwest community of Silverado.

Then, early Monday morning, police pulled over a vehicle matching the description of the van stolen in Friday’s carjacking. The man driving the vehicle was taken into custody.

Police charged 36-year-old Ryan John Wilson of Calgary with two counts of possession of stolen property, and one count of possession of drugs.

He was released on a promise to appear in court on Thursday, but was arrested again after allegedly robbing a liquor store in northeast Calgary and assaulting a clerk who tried to stop him.

Police found Wilson at that scene, hiding in the back seat of an unlocked vehicle. He was charged with one count each of theft, assault with intent to resist arrest, possession of stolen property, and two counts of breach of release conditions and taken back into custody.

Wilson was then charged Friday with robbery, pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and carrying a concealed weapon in connection to the carjacking at Market Mall. He is set to appear in court on Monday.

Police said their investigation also led to them to a motor home near 1 Street and 20 Avenue N.E. Wednesday night where a man who dropped a handgun in his attempt to flee police was arrested. Thirty-year-old Michael Matchett is expected to appear in court Friday.

Neighbours describe seeing officers in SWAT gear surround a home at around 9 p.m.

READ MORE: ‘That cop almost died’: neighbour describes police takedown in Tuxedo Park

Two other men were also taken into custody from the same motorhome. Both were interviewed and one, 39-year-old Ryan Hawke was charged.