There was a heavy police presence in southwest Edmonton on Sunday night as officers were searching for a suspect who was allegedly running through yards with a gun after crashing a stolen stolen truck, according to authorities.
Just before 8:30 p.m., a stolen bronze/brown Ford F-150 truck was spotted by a patrol car speeding south on Terwillegar Drive at the 40 Avenue intersection. Police said the truck was going between 130 and 140 km/h — nearly double the 70 km/h speed limit.
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Police said while officers did not pursue it, the truck began driving erratically. EPS said the truck turned at the next intersection east on to Rabbit Hill Road, going left-of-center towards oncoming traffic before proceeding on to Riverbend Road.
Several vehicles took evasive measures and pedestrians at the traffic lights were nearly struck, police said.
Several kilometres away, the pickup eventually crashed into a curb on Magrath Boulevard just east of Rabbit Hill Road, where the suspect got out and took off on foot, according to police.
A large police presence descended upon the upscale Edmonton neighbourhood, with both officers on the ground and the Air 1 police helicopter in the sky.
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Colin Beauregard said he heard a commotion and looked out his bedroom window to see about 15 police cars, an ambulance and a firetruck. Then he looked up.
“We saw the helicopter flying overhead for probably a good hour, hour and a bit, last night. Definitely a lot going on. You’re like, ‘Holy!’ It’s pretty crazy,” he said.
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It was reported to police that the suspect was running through backyards and jumping residential fences in an attempt to flee the area.
“It was definitely crazy. It’s Magrath, right? It’s not supposed to be a crazy neighbourhood, but there seems to be more and more going on – thefts locally and stuff like that. It’s a little bit uneasy. Hopefully they get him,” Beauregard said.
As the suspect continued running, police received another 911 call that a man had what appeared to be a handgun his possession while in their yard.
Police are reviewing video surveillance from homes in the area to confirm that information.
As of Monday morning no arrests had been announced.
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