A man has been freed and his alleged kidnapper arrested after a police pursuit that started in St. Albert and ended in Edmonton.
The RCMP received a report Sunday night 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 are calling "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."
One Mission resident, who asked not to be named because she had safety concerns, said she was out on her deck when she heard part of the incident unfolding.
She said she heard what sounded like a police chase.
"We heard a bang and then we heard a car peel off and you could tell it was a chase of some sort," she said.
The woman said the event unfolded in about 90 seconds, although it seemed to take longer.
"We have never heard anything like that in the neighbourhood before," she said.
Following the incident, her husband said he heard a police helicopter flying overhead.
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.
RCMP say the police offer who was driving the car that was struck by the suspect, as well as the suspect themself, also suffered minor injuries.
Kading said police continually assess a situation any time there is a police pursuit, in order to ensure the safety of the public on roadways and to monitor risk as an event unfolds.
The RCMP are continuing to investigate this incident and charges are pending.
St. Albert Victim Services has been connected to the victim and his family.
If you have any information about this crime and would like to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at p3tips.com or with the P3 Tips app. Crime Stoppers does not collect information about your identity. A tip leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Original story:
A man was freed and his kidnapper was arrested after a police pursuit that started in St. Albert and ended in Edmonton.
At 9:30 p.m. on Sunday the RCMP received a report that a St. Albert man was being held against his will in a green 2008 Hyundai car.
The RCMP officers found the car at the intersection of St. Albert Trail and McKenney Avenue, where they 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 the kidnapping suspect continued driving towards Edmonton and a police pursuit ensued.
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, who was the passenger of the vehicle, suffered minor injuries.
The police officer that was in the police car struck by the suspect vehicle also suffered minor injuries.
The suspect driver received minor injuries from the collision.
This investigation is continuing and charges are pending.
St. Albert Victim Services has been connected to the victim and his family.
If you have information about this crime and would like to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at p3tips.com, or with the P3 Tips app. Crime Stoppers does not collect information about your identity. A tip leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
