The specialized RCMP task force responsible for reducing rural crime across northeastern Alberta utilized their dog services, detachment members and air support to arrest a suspected truck thief in the Fishing Lake area, approximately two hours southeast of Lac La Biche.
"Our intelligence led policing allows us to target repeat offenders throughout various communities," says Constable Guillaume Wilson, Eastern Alberta Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU). "We are able to focus on hotpsots in hopes of taking the offenders who cause the most crimes off the street and stopping further offences from being committed."
According to an RCMP news release, on Nov. 1, 2018, members of EADRCRU, Elk Point RCMP, and Cold Lake Police Dog Services (PDS) conducted an intelligence driven “hotspot” patrol in the Fishing Lake area with the help of RCMP Air Services. During this operation, an RCMP member spotted a truck believed to be associated with a wanted male.
Sky view and spike belts
Police attempted to stop the truck but it fled at high speed. The RCMP Air Services helicopter kept track of the fleeing truck throughout Fishing Lake and Frog Lake as it drove through fields, back trails, and highways. Police then utilized co-ordinated efforts to intercept and stop the truck as it ran over a spike belt and eventually pulled into the driveway of a residence with deflated tires.
The driver of the truck accelerated towards police members and rammed a police vehicle but was boxed in. The passenger of the vehicle was quickly arrested without further incident and the driver was arrested with the assistance of the police dog service.. The truck was found to be stolen from Bonnyville.
The alleged driver , Fergus Brosseau (42) of Fishing Lake who found to be prohibited from driving Canada-wide, was charged with several Criminal Code offences which include:
- Assault on a police officer with a weapon
- Flight from police
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Driving while disqualified
He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries stemming from this incident and was subsequently released into RCMP custody. He was then remanded into custody after a judicial hearing and is scheduled to appear in St. Paul Provincial Court on Nov. 8, 2018.
The passenger, a 39-year-old male from Fishing Lake, was charged with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Flight from police
- Possession of property obtained by crime
His name cannot be released at this time pending swearing of an Information. He was released and is scheduled to appear in St. Paul Provincial Court on Dec. 13, 2018.
Further observation by RCMP Air Services during the arrest led to members on the ground recovering another truck, believed to have been stolen from Elk Point.
* Images supplied by RCMP
