While staff and students were forced to hide in offices and classrooms during a three-hour lockdown and an RCMP helicopter circled overhead, a wanted man hid in the ceiling of a Portage College classroom as another suspect in the same incident was treated by an ambulance crew for injuries from police dog bites.
Police say that Derek Gladue will be making his first court appearance this week on 19 charges relating to last Thursday's search for two suspected truck thieves. The 25 year old Beaver Lake man already had warrants for his arrest in relation to an RCMP raid on a what police called a 'chop shop' in the Beaver Lake area. Several other people were arrested in the raid, but RCMP say one suspect escaped, reportedly steering a getaway vehicle toward an RCMP officer.
Police say they were acting on a tip last Thursday morning when the local RCMP, the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU), RCMP air services and their dog services converged towards a home near Elinor Lake. As police were staging, a vehicle matching one they were searching was spotted in Lac La Biche by a resident reporting a suspicious pickup truck at the Almac Hotel. The newer model dodge pickup had extensive front end damage and a broken rear window. The truck is believed to have been stolen from the Athabasca area.
A pursuit was not initiated for public safety, say police, but the RCMP’s helicopter kept the vehicle in view and coordinated with officers on the ground.
“Assistance from Air Services was integral in this operation”, said EADRCRU Constable Guillaume Wilson. “This enabled us to mitigate the risk to the public and gave us the best chance of apprehending our subject.”
Police say the stolen vehicle was not being pursued, but still went through Lac La Biche driving dangerously, going through red lights, stop signs, and into oncoming traffic. Just before the lunch hour, a spike belt was used and the truck became inoperable after a collision with a police vehicle near the Youth Assessment Centre on 94 Avenue, just north of the Portage College campus.
The driver and a passenger ran from the vehicle. The passenger was quickly apprehended with the assistance of a police dog, but the suspected driver continued to flee into the college.
Group effort to secure
RCMP members, with assistance of Lac La Biche peace officers, emergency services, and campus security contained the college. Staff and students were locked into offices and classrooms for more than two hours before the suspect was located, hiding in the ceiling of a classroom. He was arrested without incident and no one was injured.
“The public did a fantastic job at remaining calm and assisting us during this ordeal,' said Wilson. “This incident could have lasted much longer had it not been for the quick response from the staff and students at Portage College, as well as the help from our other emergency service partners.”
At the college, interim president Nancy Broadbent offered similar praises for students, staff and police forces.
"We thank the RCMP for their professionalism and to thank students and staff for their patience during the incident." said Broadbent.
Courses linked to the Lac La Biche campus were cancelled for the rest of the day, resuming on Friday. Support services available were made available to students and staff who required any assistance following the incident.
Gladue’s charges dating back from the October raid on the suspected chop shop include
- Assault on a police officer with a weapon
- Several counts of possession of property obtained by crime
- Flight from police
- Resisting a peace officer
- Breaking and entering
- Mischief over $5,000
- Possession of break-in instruments
- Failing to attend court
- Alter/destroy/remove a vehicle identification number
- Fraudulent concealment
- Dangerous driving
- Failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance
Following the events from Nov. 22, 2018, Gladue is also facing new charges, including:
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Mischief over $5,000
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Flight from police
- Resisting a peace officer
- Failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance
- Driving while unauthorized
He was remanded into custody following a judicial hearing and will be appearing in Bonnyville Provincial Court on Nov. 27, 2018.
James Lameman (25) of Beaver Lake has also been charged with several offences, including:
- Possession of property obtained by crime
- Flight from police
- Failing to comply with conditions
- Resisting a peace officer
He was released with court conditions after a judicial hearing and will be appearing in Lac La Biche Provincial Court on Dec. 3, 2018.
