A man from Medicine Hat is facing several charges after Lloydminster RCMP tried to stop his vehicle when they suspected he might be impaired.
Police say they received a complaint of a suspected impaired driver at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Aug. 18. Officers located the vehicle on Highway 16, east of Lloydminster and attempted a traffic stop. However, police say the driver failed to stop and fled the area, prompting a police investigation that lasted about two hours.
During the incident, officers deployed a tire deflation device in an effort to safely stop the vehicle. Police say the driver continued to flee, leading officers to use a tactical vehicle contact to bring the situation to an end. This is a maneuver in which a police vehicle makes controlled contact with a fleeing vehicle to bring the pursuit to a safe end.
RCMP reported that one police vehicle was struck by the suspect’s vehicle during the incident. No members of the public or police officers were injured.
The 25-year-old Medicine Hat resident was arrested and charged with:
- Dangerous operation of a conveyance
- Flight from a peace officer
- Refusal of a lawful demand
- Assaulting a police officer with a weapon
The accused was brought before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody. He is to return to Saskatchewan Provincial Court in Lloydminster on Monday, Aug. 24.
“The RCMP recognizes that police pursuits and attempts to stop fleeing vehicles can present significant risks to the public,” said Sgt. Christopher Byford of the Lloydminster RCMP. “Officers continually assess the circumstances and utilize available tactics and resources with the safety of the public, police officers, and the suspect as a priority.”
