Lac La Biche RCMP are continuing their investigation into the theft of a dual-axle pickup truck last week that resulted in a pursuit drawing police from the Boyle area along with municipal peace officers, and tracked across more than 60 kilometres of local highways and backroads.
Police say they got involved with the case last Tuesday when a 2001 black dodge dually pickup truck was reported stolen. A short time later, the owner of the truck called police to say that he had located the truck and had confronted the person driving it. Police say the suspect driver allegedly produced a knife and threatened the owner. The Dodge then raced south of Lac La Biche on Highway 36.
Police say that was the beginning of a multi-hour effort to locate the vehicle and the driver. Local RCMP catch up to the vehicle south of Lac La Biche, but the suspect got away. Several reports over the next hour helped police to again find the vehicle west of Lac La Biche on Hwy 55 turning south at the Plamondon 4-Corners. Three local RCMP vehicles and units from the Boyle RCMP detachment attempted to stop the vehicle as it headed south and eventually made it to the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement. From there, police followed the truck back up to Hwy 663 and back into Lac La Biche.
The pursuit was called off when the truck was just outside of the Lac La Biche hamlet. The vehicle again got away, but was soon spotted on Nashim Drive. Police again tried to block in the vehicle, but the driver managed to evade police.
The vehicle was found the next day near the Spruce Point campsite at the Beaver Lake Cree Nation. Police say the vehicle was still driveable. They also say they are following all leads to find suspects involved with the theft.
“It wasn’t a short pursuit and it did last a considerable time,” said northeastern Alberta RCMP media relations officer Corp. Ronald Bumbry, explaining that the decision to chase the truck — at times reaching speeds of 150 km/h — was based on the same reasons the decisions were made to halt the pursuit over the course of the day; public safety and the threat of escalated crime. “Ultimately, public safety is our first concern. Pursuits are not called lightly — but when a weapon is reportedly involved, or there is a risk to life, we make the decision.”
Social safety and risk
Bumbry said that risk to life should also be considered when the public chooses to get involved in events like this one. From the attempt by the owner to approach the suspect to members of the public who followed the chase in their vehicles or announced the actions of the police over social media platforms — the possible results aren’t worth the risks.
“Belongings can be replaced. Lives can’t. It is so very important that we are called to deal with these kinds of situations and that the public does not engage,” he said. “The risks are too high, and too many factors are unknown."
For those posting the locations of the police or commenting on the pursuit, Bumbry said those actions can result in serious consequences for local police and the public.
“With everybody having access to social media, it’s very important that people don’t broadcast police activity. Criminals have cell phones too, and people who tell them things ... it’s putting our officers and further, the public, at more risk.”
Lac La Biche RCMP Constable Roxanne Genereaux, one of the members involved in the pursuit, said officers are continuing to investigate the incident. She could not discuss how many suspects the RCMP were looking for.
She said the truck theft was one of several stolen vehicle cases local RCMP are investigating that took place between August 28-29. Over that 24-hour period, there were two vehicles, three ATVs, and one trailer stolen within the detachment’s service area.
