October 13, 2018

Ponoka RCMP Integrated Traffic Unit on scene at fatal motor vehicle collision on QEII

Ponoka County, Alberta – The Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit, is on scene with emergency services at a three vehicle collision which has resulted in the death of a 46-year-old male.

At 10:25 p.m. on October 12, RCMP were dispatched to a serious motor vehicle collision northbound on the QEII at the Highway 53 overpass.  A pick up truck hauling a utility trailer collided with a mini-van and an SUV, all of which were northbound.  The mini van caught on fire and the male driver of the mini van remained trapped in the vehicle and succumbed to injuries received.  The male driver of the pick up truck was not injured and the female driver of the SUV was transported to hospital via ground ambulance, with non life threatening injuries.

An RCMP collision analyst has attended to conduct an investigation. RCMP and Sheriffs remain on scene to assist with traffic.  Northbound traffic is being briefly diverted at the overpass but remains flowing and southbound traffic is not affected.

Weather is considered to a be contributing factor in this collision.  Further information is not available at this time.

East District, Alberta – On Oct. 9, 2018, RCMP members from the Elk Point Detachment, Cold Lake, Bonnyville Detachments along with Cold Lake Police Dog Services (PDS), and the Eastern Alberta District Rural Crime Reduction Unit (EADRCRU) were involved in a pursuit that spanned through Fishing Lake, Frog Lake, Bonnyville County, Elizabeth Metis Settlement, and briefly into Saskatchewan. RCMP Air Services were also utilized which was crucial in bringing the pursuit to an end without injuries.

“All RCMP members involved in this incident used teamwork and co-ordination to bring a safe resolution to the pursuit,” says Constable Guillaume Wilson (EADRCRU).  “They demonstrated a high level of professionalism despite the dangers they faced and the intensity of the situation.”

This incident started on the morning of Oct. 9, 2018 when multiple detachments conducted a joint operation to apprehend a male wanted on several outstanding warrants for serious offences. While in Fishing Lake, police believed they spotted the male inside a vehicle that failed to stop for police and fled at high speed. A pursuit was initiated which went through Fishing Lake, Frog Lake, a section of Bonnyville County, and into the Elizabeth Metis Settlement. Once inside the Elizabeth Metis Settlement, the suspect vehicle was able to evade police after striking the windshield of a police vehicle with a metal pipe.

Police believed the suspect vehicle was hiding in an area along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border and were able to contain this area with the help of the Saskatchewan RCMP until Alberta RCMP Air Services could arrive.

“Many people believe that crossing provincial lines will force us to cease efforts to apprehend them, but this is certainly not the case” says Constable Guillaume Wilson. “We are Canada’s police force and provincial borders will not prevent us from stopping criminals and keeping Canadians safe.”

Air Services located the suspect vehicle in a trail system along the Alberta/ Saskatchewan border and police vehicles on the ground quickly surrounded the area. This led to members successfully deflating one of the fleeing vehicle’s tires with a spike belt. Following this, EADRCRU and Cold Lake PDS re-engaged the suspect vehicle in a pursuit which led them through the Elizabeth Metis Settlement again until the fleeing vehicle was no longer able to continue and its occupants fled on foot.

All occupants were quickly arrested and taken into custody without incident. The vehicle used in this incident was later confirmed to be stolen.

Desmond Spence (18) and Cody Spence (19) of Edmonton were charged with multiple Criminal Code offences which include:

• Assault on a police officer with a weapon
• Flight from police
• Resisting a peace officer
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Failing to comply with a probation order

Both were remanded into custody after a judicial hearing and are scheduled to appear in Lac La Biche Provincial Court via CCTV on Oct. 15, 2018.

A 16-year-old male from Cold Lake, a 17-year-old female from Frog Lake, and a 14-year-old female from Elizabeth Metis Settlement, all of whom cannot be named due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act were charged with multiple Criminal Code offences which include:

• Assault on a police officer with a weapon
• Resisting a peace officer
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
• Flight from police

The 16-year-old male and 14-year-old female are also facing charges for failing to comply with conditions.

All youth were released on conditions after a judicial hearing and are scheduled to appear in Cold Lake Provincial Court on Oct. 24, 2018.