One man is facing charges after a kidnapping incident in St. Albert in May.
Brian Hosack, 21, of Cochrane is facing nine charges in relation to a kidnapping and police pursuit from St. Albert to the Remax field in Edmonton last month.
Hosack has been charged with forcible confinement, flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop after an accident, assault with a weapon, assault of a police officer with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, uttering threats and mischief to private property.
Hosack will be appearing in St. Albert Provincial Court on Monday, June 24, 2019.
The RCMP received a report on May 26 around 9:30 p.m. that a St. Albert man was being held against his will in a green 2008 Hyundai car, in what the police have called "a very unusual situation."
Cpl. Laurel Kading, a spokesperson with the St. Albert RCMP, told the Gazette the victim and suspect were known to each other and the kidnapping was not a random incident. Although police are not releasing the age of the victim, Kading said he was not a child.
The RCMP officers found the car at the intersection of St. Albert Trail and McKenney Avenue and activated their emergency equipment to stop the car. The Hyundai hit an unmarked police vehicle that had its emergency lights on and was assisting in the traffic stop.
Both vehicles were damaged, but the suspect continued driving toward Edmonton and a police pursuit ensued.
Kading said it is rare for a police vehicle to be damaged.
"(It is) very unusual but concerning to us that someone would take that kind of measure to avoid being stopped by the police," she said.
"When the officer activates his emergency lights, the guy hits the police car, so he's not operating safely. As soon as a person is not stopping, we consider it a pursuit. The person was not following speed laws, for sure."
Kading said the police continued to pursue the vehicle into Edmonton out of concern for the victim's safety.
"We were very concerned about potential for danger for the passenger, the person who was being held not voluntarily."
Once the Hyundai entered Edmonton, the Edmonton Police Service and Air One joined the pursuit. The vehicle came to a stop at a dead end near the Remax field in Edmonton, and the driver was arrested without further incident.
The kidnapping victim suffered minor injuries and was freed by RCMP once the driver was taken into custody. RCMP say the police officer who was driving the car that was struck by Hosack, as well Hosack himself, also suffered minor injuries.
