From Ponoka RCMP:

The RCMP took one male into custody following an incident on November 19 where a police vehicle was rammed by a suspect in a stolen truck. 

The Ponoka RCMP responded shortly after 8:30 a.m. to information received that a stolen truck was located at a residence in town.  

RCMP members located the truck on the property and when the vehicle tried to leave the RCMP activated emergency equipment to effect a traffic stop.  

The stolen vehicle, a Dodge Ram, accelerated backwards and struck the front end of the RCMP truck. The two members in the police truck suffered minor injuries.

The suspect in the stolen truck fled, and was seen to be driving dangerously.

The truck left the town of Ponoka and was not immediately located.

The RCMP continued to investigate at the target residence and located a second stolen truck which was seized.  

While there, the suspect returned and was arrested without incident.

20-year-old Caleb Joseph Shimwell of no fixed address is facing seven criminal code charges as follows:

  • ·assault a peace officer (x2)
  • ·operate a motor vehicle while being pursued by a peace officer
  • ·operate a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner
  • ·steal a motor vehicle (x2); and
  • ·fail to comply with conditions of a recognizance

A judicial interim release hearing has been held, and bail was not spoken to.  Shimwell remains in custody and is scheduled for a court appearance in Ponoka on November 23 at 9:30 a.m., via CCTV.