Red Deer RCMP have charged a man who fled police in a stolen truck Thursday night, then abandoned the truck and was located by Police Dog Services as he attempted to hide in a marshy area off Johnstone Drive.

At 11:30 pm, RCMP on patrol in downtown Red Deer located a stolen Dodge Ram as it drove on Ross Street. The truck fled north on Taylor Drive at a high speed, and police did not pursue for public safety reasons.

Police intercepted the truck on Orr Drive and disabled it with a tire deflation device, then tracked the truck from a distance as it continued to drive on two rims.

The truck was abandoned in an industrial area on Johnstone Drive and Police Dog Services tracked the suspect from there, successfully locating him in a marshy area nearby.

At the time of his arrest, 38 year old Lance Michael Bilsky was wanted on two outstanding warrants and was found to be in possession of what is believed to be methamphetamine and two credit cards that had been reported stolen on April 24.

The truck had been reported stolen out of Red Deer on April 28, and the license plate had been reported stolen out of Red Deer in a separate incident on April 29.

In addition to the outstanding warrants, Lance Bilsky faces the following charges:


• Criminal Code 355(a) – Possession of stolen property over $5,000
• Criminal Code 355(b) – Possession of stolen property under $5,000 X 2
• Criminal Code 249.1(1) – Dangerous operation of motor vehicle
• Criminal Code 249(1)(a) – Flight from peace officer
• Criminal Code 733.1(1) – Fail to comply with probation
• CDSA 4(1) – Possession of Schedule I substance (methamphetamine)

Lance Bilsky will appear in court in Red Deer on May 8 at 9:30 am.