Lethbridge, Alberta – On Monday, February 22, 2016 at approximately 11:30 am, a member of the RCMP Lethbridge Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) narrowly escaped being run down by a car which rammed his police car after it failed to stop for police near Highway 3, in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Three people were taken into custody on the matter. Two people were released without charges and the driver of the vehicle has been held in custody.
18 year old Lekendric Smith, of Calgary, Alberta has been charged with the following offences;
- one count of Dangerous Driving
- one count of failing to stop for police officer
- one count of failing to stop after being involved in an accident
- two counts for failing to comply with court imposed conditions.
- two additional charges under the Provincial Traffic Safety Act for driving and unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.
Smith has been remanded in custody and will make his first court appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court on February 24, 2106.
Coaldale RCMP police vehicle rammed during traffic stop results in three arrests
Lethbridge, AB – On Monday, Feb. 22, at approximately 11:30 am, a member of the RCMP Lethbridge Integrated Traffic Unit (ITU) narrowly escaped being run down by a car which rammed his police car after it failed to stop for police near Highway 3, in Lethbridge.
While patrolling Highway 3 this morning, the police officer had observed the driver of a silver Honda Civic commit a traffic offence and attempted to initiate a traffic stop of the vehicle. Instead of stopping, the Honda Civic continued driving with the police vehicle following it along Highway 3. The suspect vehicle turned off of the highway and drove into the yard of a construction company located in Lethbridge. The police officer, realizing that the entrance was the only point of access to the yard, stopped his vehicle at the entranceway.
The suspect vehicle drove around the yard before turning toward the police vehicle in the entranceway. The Civic drove into the passenger side of the police vehicle with sufficient force to move it sideways, jarring the police officer, who then excited the vehicle. During this incident the police officer discharged his firearm at the Civic.
The Civic left the construction yard after ramming the police vehicle and drove back to Highway 3. Police initiated a pursuit of the Civic which was stopped successfully by the deployment of a spike belt at Range Road 255. The three occupants of the Honda Civic were arrested and taken into RCMP custody.
No one was injured during this incident and police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this morning’s events. Currently, no additional information is available, however, updates will be made as the investigation progresses.