From Red Deer RCMP:

Red Deer RCMP have charged the man who is alleged to have rammed a police car on July 17 in Red Deer while driving a stolen truck, and he is scheduled to appear in court on December 19.

Red Deer RCMP identified the suspect early in the investigation into the July 17 collision that sent a police officer to hospital to be treated for minor injuries, and began searching for him.

The suspect was later arrested by another RCMP detachment on an unrelated matter, and Red Deer RCMP swore charges against him shortly afterward.

 26 year old James Kenneth Riley faces the following charges in relation to the July 17 incident:

  • Criminal Code 252(1.2) – Fail to stop at scene of accident
  • Criminal Code 249.1(1) – Flight from police officer
  • Criminal Code 249(1)(a) – Dangerous operation of motor vehicle
  • Criminal Code 270.01(a) – Assault peace officer
  • Criminal Code 259(4) – Operate motor vehicle while disqualified
  • Criminal Code 333.1 – Theft of motor vehicle
  • Criminal Code 733.1(1) – Fail to comply with probation

James Riley is scheduled to appear in court in Red Deer on December 19 at 9:30 am.

 

BACKGROUND:

July 17, 2017

Red Deer RCMP look for suspect after police car struck

Red Deer, Alberta – Red Deer RCMP are searching for a suspect who rammed a police car while driving a stolen truck early this morning, resulting in minor injuries to a Red Deer police officer.

RCMP were on patrol in an alley in the Highland Green neighbourhood at 1 am on July 17 when they intercepted a white 2006 Ford F350 in the process of being stolen. The truck fled police, driving on a walking path adjacent to 59 Avenue into the Riverside Meadows neighbourhood. RCMP located it again on Kerrywood Drive near the Taylor Drive intersection, where the truck appeared to be stuck on the median. When an RCMP officer approached in a marked police cruiser, the truck reversed at high speed toward the police car, collided with it, then fled northbound on Taylor Drive.

The police cruiser suffered severe damage to the front end, and the police officer driving it sustained minor injuries in the collision and was treated at hospital.

The driver of the truck is described as a skinny Caucasian male, early to mid-30s, with some facial hair, wearing a black hat and a black hoodie.

RCMP recovered the stolen truck abandoned in a parking lot in north Red Deer shortly before 8:30 am the same day.

“The driver of this truck showed blatant disregard for life – both for the safety of the public as he crashed through a park area and drove erratically at high speeds on city streets, and for the life of the police officer he intentionally collided with,” says Staff Sergeant Jeff McBeth of the Red Deer RCMP. “This incident highlights why RCMP strongly encourage the public not to engage with criminals. Every day, police officers deal with criminals making dangerous choices trying to avoid arrest, and we’re lucky, today, that our member wasn’t seriously injured.”

This is the second incident of damage to a Red Deer police car by a thief in a stolen vehicle attempting to evade arrest in the space of four days; the evening of July 13, a woman driving a stolen silver 2004 Ford Freestar van collided with the side of a police car while fleeing police. In that case, the police car sustained minor damage and the police officer was not injured. That van had an Alberta license plate BWW3351 at the time of its theft; it has not been recovered yet.

If you have information about either investigation, contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If your information leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.

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