EDMONTON — A 33-year-old Calgary man is facing several charges after a police chase through parts of Edmonton that lasted nearly 90 minutes Friday evening.
The ordeal, which snarled traffic through the evening rush, started at around 3:15 p.m. after a driver called police to report an alleged impaired driver in the area of 75 Street and 98 Avenue.
After locating the vehicle – a Chevrolet Silverado – in the area of 75 Street and 118 Avenue police attempted to stop the driver, but he sped away eastbound down 118 Avenue.
Police said they did not follow the truck for public safety reasons, but instead called in the Air 1 police helicopter to follow the suspect from the sky.
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Air 1 followed the truck east on the Yellowhead and into Strathcona County. The truck then headed back into Edmonton where police officers on the ground threw down a spike belt in hopes of stopping the vehicle in an industrial area in southeast Edmonton.
With two flat front tires, the vehicle – which police learned was stolen – continued west down Argyll road. The truck continued on until it struck another vehicle in the area of 53 Avenue and Whitemud Drive. A tactical team and Canine Unit was eventually able to box in the suspect in the area of 178 Street and Whitemud Drive.
The man driving the truck “vigorously resisted arrest,” police said. Officers were forced to use a Taser on the man to bring him into custody at around 4:25 p.m.
Joel Hanley of Calgary, who police said was impaired, has is facing several charges including:
- Criminal flight (x2)
- Possession of stolen property under $5,000
- Possession of stolen property over $5,000
- Criminal hit and run
- Possession of a dangerous weapon
- Criminal dangerous driving
- Resisting arrest
- Fraudulent concealment
- Theft
- Mischief
More than 20 Edmonton police officers were dispatched to deal with the incident, which police said was the second extensive criminal flight in 39 hours.
More than 55 EPS officers and Strathcona County RCMP officers were called out early Thursday morning to deal with a criminal flight that ended with the arrest of a man and a woman.
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