RCMP said a man has been arrested and they expect to lay charges after his attempt to flee police resulted in a dramatic and fiery situation that prompted officials to shut down the Edson Airport Monday.
According to police, an RCMP officer tried to pull over a pickup truck for a traffic stop Monday but the truck sped away “at a high rate of speed” and allegedly nearly hit the police vehicle.
Mounties said they later received a report of a vehicle breaking through a security gate at the Edson Airport. When officers responded, they saw the truck driving down an airport runway before it stopped and caught fire. They said the driver ran into a wooded area and a decision was made to shut down the airport while emergency crews responded.
Police said the man was later found in a residential area and arrested without incident.
“The actions of one put the safety of the airport in substantial danger,” Staff Sgt. Peter King, the Edson RCMP detachment commander, said in a statement. “We are pleased the man was apprehended quickly.”
RCMP said the man remains in police custody awaiting a bail hearing at which time they expect to press criminal charges including endangering the safety of an aerodrome, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, driving while disqualified, obstructing a peace officer, mischief over $5,000 and possession of methamphetamine.
Edson is about a two-hour drive west of Edmonton.