The Edmonton Police Service has arrested a 36-year-old male for several offences following an auto-theft over the May long weekend.
On Saturday, May 20, 2017 at approximately 7:10 p.m. Downtown Division officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision in the area of 103 Avenue and 113 Street. Upon arrival, witnesses reported that a black 2008 Chevrolet Silverado truck was travelling through the residential area at a high rate of speed, narrowly missing a large group of children at a nearby spray park. The truck then allegedly failed to stop at a yield sign and struck a red 2007 Saturn Ion travelling eastbound on 103 Avenue. The collision forced the Silverado over the curb, where it side-swiped a tree and returned to the road striking a parked vehicle. Fortunately, the driver and two passengers in the Ion did not sustain any injuries.
Following the collision, witnesses reported that the male exited the truck and fled on foot, threatening those in the vicinity with a large boulder. The accused then allegedly approached another parked vehicle and threw the boulder at the passenger window, startling the driver who immediately drove away. As police pursued the male on foot, they also observed him attempt to enter the locked, rear passenger side door of a vehicle stopped at a stop sign. After coming to a stop in the area of 102 Avenue and 112 Street, the male threatened officers with the boulder before he was taken into custody.
Upon further investigation, police determined that the the Silverado had been stolen in the area of 99 Avenue and 114 Street minutes prior to the collision. When the driver of the Silverado exited his vehicle briefly to check tire pressure, the accused reportedly jumped in the vehicle and drove off.
“Stolen vehicles are often used to commit other crimes,” says Const. Brian Meyer with EPS Downtown Division. “In this instance, it was fortunate that no one was injured.”
Recently, the EPS, RCMP and IBC launched an educational campaign, Lock Out Auto Theft, to help citizens protect themselves from rising auto theft rates.
“Unfortunately, we are encountering dangerous autotheft incidents like this one more often,” says Det. Dwayne Karpo with the EPS Auto Theft Unit. “We often don’t expect that our vehicle will be stolen if we are nearby, but thieves will take advantage of any opportunity.”
David Stewart, 36, is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, criminal hit and run, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault with a weapon (x3), obstruct a peace officer, assault police with a weapon, operation while disqualified (x2), breach parole (x3) and mischief under $5000.
For more information on what you can do to help fight auto theft, visit http://lockoutautotheft.ca