INNISFAIL – A prolific repeat offender from Innisfail is in custody on multiple Criminal Code offences following a multi-jurisdictional RCMP pursuit that began in Three Hills and ended in the Olds area.
Strathmore RCMP Staff Sgt. Mark Wielgosz said in a news release that his detachment was notified at about 1:40 p.m. on Aug. 25 that two stolen vehicles had fled from a police officer in Three Hills who attempted a traffic stop after confirming one was stolen.
Wielgosz said Strathmore RCMP obtained a visual of the vehicles as they headed south on Highway 21.
He said an unmarked police unit followed one of the stolen vehicles, a black mid-2010s model Ram pickup, at a distance.
Wielgosz said the vehicle travelled west and back to Highway 21 heading north through the Airdrie RCMP detachment's rural area. He added the vehicle continued until it turned west on Highway 27 towards Olds.
Wielgosz said Olds RCMP then deployed a tire deflation device east of Highway 2. It was effective and the vehicle was disabled.
He said the suspect drove the stolen truck westbound on flat tires until it could no longer be operated.
Wielgosz said the Strathmore RCMP officer who was following the police pursuit moved in and took the offender into custody. He said Olds RCMP members also moved in to help clear the vehicle.
He said the truck was recovered with stolen property and illicit substances found inside.
Wielgosz identified the suspect as Mitchell Engler, a 37-year-old resident of Innisfail. He said Engler was transported to the Strathmore detachment where he was charged with 15 new offences and remanded in custody.
The charges include:
• flight from peace officer;
• four counts of failing to comply with condition of probation;
• five counts of failing to comply with condition of release order;
• operating a motor vehicle while prohibited;
• two counts of possession of a controlled substance;
• possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000; and
• possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
It is not known at this time when Engler is scheduled to make a first appearance in provincial court on these new charges.
Wielgosz was not immediately available for further comment.
However, in the Aug. 25 news release Wielgosz said Engler was under a driving prohibition order at the time of the arrest.
He added Engler was also under two probation orders and two other release orders for 25 outstanding charges that involve drugs, failure to comply with conditions, prohibited driving, and property offences.
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