The RCMP provided details on Saturday about a chaotic crime spree in central Alberta a day earlier that resulted in officers firing their guns on two occasions.
Mounties in Sundre said they received multiple complaints of “erratic driving and threatening behaviour” involving the same vehicle on Friday. According to police, the suspect vehicle at one point rammed another vehicle and when the person inside got out, one of the people in the suspect vehicle “struck” him during an altercation leaving the victim with minor injuries.
Police said the suspect vehicle was determined to be stolen and was later spotted again in Rocky Mountain House. Officers tried unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle and at about 4:25 p.m., an RCMP officer tried to stop the eastbound vehicle north of Sylvan Lake. Police said a spike belt was deployed, after which the suspect vehicle turned around and then an officer fired their gun. Police did not say what or who the officer fired at or if the bullet hit anything.
According to police, two of the three suspects in the vehicle then broke into a family home with young children inside. They said the suspects stole some cellphones before heading to a neighbouring farmhouse, breaking in and stealing a pickup truck. Police said they tried to block the truck before it rammed a police vehicle and officers fired their guns. Police did not confirm if the bullets hit anyone or anything, however, they said two suspects were taken to hospital with unspecified but non-life-threatening injuries.
The RCMP said a third suspect was also located but did not say where. An investigation is ongoing and police said as of late Saturday morning, no charges had been laid.
Watch below: Watch below: Tomasz Gorny was driving home from work Friday afternoon when he witnessed someone drive through an RCMP roadblock near Sylvan Lake. WARNING: Strong language.
Those inside the first house did not want to speak on-camera. However, family members told Global News that two men tried to break into vehicles that were on the property but there were no keys.
When one woman who was inside went to check on the family’s barking dog, two men ran at her. She locked the door but the men kicked the door down.
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The men demanded keys to the vehicles but another woman refused to give hers up. The men left with two cellphones and rushed out the front door.
Three children were inside. No one was injured.
A heavy police presence could be seen west of Red Deer on Friday evening and some roads were blocked off in Lacombe County as police investigated.
As of late Saturday morning, Highway 20 was still shut down between Aspelund Road to Rainy Creek Road.
READ MORE: ASIRT investigating officer-involved shooting near Sylvan Lake
Watch below: There was a heavy RCMP presence near Sylvan Lake on Friday night and Alberta’s police watchdog confirmed it was investigating a shooting. Sarah Kraus reports.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is now investigating the officer-involved shootings.
ASIRT investigates incidents involving Alberta law enforcement officers that result in injury or death as well as “serious or sensitive allegations of police misconduct.”
Anybody with information about any of Friday’s incidents or the suspects is asked to contact their local police department. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
-With files from Julia Wong
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