An 18-year-old Red Deer man is facing numerous charges after RCMP allege he stole a truck before crashing into several vehicles and a townhouse on Wednesday.
According to police, the stolen truck was seen driving westbound on Cornett Drive in Red Deer when it hit another pickup truck and a car before veering onto a townhouse’s lawn and getting stuck on the front steps.
Mounties said the suspect then tried to run away on foot while carrying a shotgun in an unsecured case, along with ammunition.
Police said about five witnesses were able to apprehend the suspect in a nearby park until officers arrived. In a release, police said while they “appreciate citizens’ wish to help out” and were glad nobody was injured, they urge the public not to try making citizen’s arrests.
“Public safety is our first priority, and we encourage citizens not to put themselves in danger by engaging with suspects who may respond in unpredictable ways or who may, as was the case yesterday, be armed with a dangerous weapon,” Red Deer RCMP Cpl. Karyn Kay said in a release.
Dakota Lee Cornelssen has been charged with 13 offences including unauthorized possession of a firearm, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
Cornelssen has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear in Calgary Provincial Court via CCTV on Friday.